By A prominent Russian foreign policy expert is pushing for President Vladimir Putin to adopt a more aggressive nuclear posture towards the West, advocating for a clear willingness to use nuclear weapons against countries supporting NATO’s involvement in Ukraine.
Sergei Karaganov, in an interview with Kommersant newspaper, argued that Russia should be prepared to launch a limited nuclear strike on a NATO country without necessarily triggering an all-out nuclear war. He contended that the United States is not truthful about its nuclear protection guarantees to allies.
“The main goal of Russia’s nuclear doctrine should be to ensure that all current and future enemies are sure that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons,” Karaganov stated. His comments come weeks after Ukraine captured a part of Russia’s Kursk region, an area from which Moscow is still attempting to dislodge Ukrainian forces.
Karaganov further asserted, “It is time to declare that we have the right to respond to any massive strikes on our territory with a nuclear strike. This also applies to any seizure of our territory.”
While Karaganov’s views do not represent official Russian policy, they are closely monitored by Western security experts as indicators of Russian thinking on foreign, defense, and nuclear policy. The Kremlin has repeatedly provided him platforms to voice these opinions and present them directly to President Putin.
For over a year, Karaganov has been a leading voice calling for revisions to Russia’s nuclear doctrine. The current doctrine states that Russia would use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or a conventional attack threatening the state’s existence. Karaganov criticized this doctrine as “irresponsible and even suicidal,” arguing it fails to adequately deter Russia’s enemies.
He warned that Russia risks exhausting itself militarily and economically in the Ukraine conflict without a shift in nuclear strategy, potentially leading to “decline and possibly even collapse.”
Karaganov’s past statements have included calls for Russia to consider pre-emptive nuclear strikes to “sober up” its enemies. While President Putin has made statements interpreted by the West as nuclear threats since the start of the Ukraine war, he has also maintained that Russia can win the conflict without resorting to nuclear weapons.
Some Western analysts suggest Karaganov’s role may be to voice alarming views that make Putin appear moderate by comparison. When questioned about the risk of his proposed policy leading to all-out nuclear war, Karaganov responded, “The assertion that any limited use of nuclear weapons will necessarily lead to a general nuclear Armageddon does not stand up to criticism. I assure you that all nuclear powers have plans for the calibrated use of nuclear weapons under certain scenarios.”
He emphasized, “I am not calling for a dangerous path, I am calling for saving the world and Russia. Either we win this war, or we fall apart. The West can fight endlessly, this war is very beneficial to it. And I am not calling for a nuclear war at all, I would very much like not to bring things to this, but to stop before having to make a terrible choice.”
As Russia continues its military operations in Ukraine and faces international sanctions, Karaganov’s statements underscore the ongoing debate within Russian policy circles about the country’s nuclear strategy and its approach to the conflict with the West.
REUTERS
