Leading Russians condemn threats to use nukes in Ukraine

Members of the Russian Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, recently condemned threats to use tactical nuclear weapons on the battleground in Ukraine. Their unprecedented declaration reads:

“Recently, there have been statements (some of them made by members of the SWAP) which promote, albeit with many reservations, the idea of a preventive nuclear strike by Russia in the event of a negative development of the military operation in Ukraine and its adjacent territories. Those who make those statements not only speculate about the use of tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine but also propose to attack the founding members of NATO.

“We are all well aware of the data from earlier and more recent studies that shows the scale of the possible consequences of nuclear war. It is highly irresponsible to rely on the hope that a limited nuclear conflict can be managed and prevented from escalating into a global nuclear war. This means that tens or even hundreds of millions of human lives in Russia, Europe, China, the United States, and other parts of the world, are at stake. It is a direct threat to the entire humankind.

“Our country, devastated by this disaster, and our people, disorganized by this war, would also face the threat of losing their sovereignty under the pressure of the surviving nations of the South.

“It is unacceptable to let pseudo-theoretical rhetoric and emotional statements, in the vein of the so-called talk shows, create such sentiments in the society that could lead to disastrous decisions.

“These are no longer theoretical concepts. It is not only a direct threat to all of humanity, but also a very concrete proposal to kill all the people who we love and care about.

“We, the members of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, find such statements absolutely unacceptable and condemn them unequivocally.

“No one should ever blackmail humanity with the threat of a nuclear weapon attack, let alone give the order to use it in combat.

“We invite all members of the SWAP to endorse this statement.”

Read more for a full list of signatories.

(Headline photo of war scene in Ukraine by Yan Boechat/VOA/Wikimedia Commons)