Russia raised the situation of using nuclear weapons, saying it had not achieved its goals in Ukraine

In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on March 22, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to rule out that Russia would consider using nuclear weapons against what Moscow does. considered a “survival threat”. Asked under what conditions Putin would use Russia’s nuclear capabilities, Peskov replied, “if it’s an existential threat to our country, then it probably is.”

President Putin has previously hinted at using nuclear weapons against countries he considers a threat to Russia. In February, Putin said in a televised statement: “No matter who tries to get in our way or beyond to pose threats to our country and people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be like you’ve never seen in all of history.”

The Russian leader later said in a televised meeting with Russian defense officials that “leaders of NATO countries have allowed themselves to make aggressive comments about the country.” us, therefore I order the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff to put the Russian Army Deterrence Force on combat alert.”

When asked what President Putin thinks he has achieved in Ukraine so far, Mr. Peskov replied: “Oh, first of all, not yet. He hasn’t achieved yet.”

Russia’s special military operation, launched on February 24, has been four weeks so far. Spokesman Peskov stated that the operation was “going ahead in full accordance with the established plans and purposes”.

Peskov reiterated Putin’s demands, saying that the main goal of the operation was to “eliminate Ukraine’s military potential”, ensure Ukraine was a “neutral country”, eliminate “battalions of nationalism”, forcing Ukraine to accept Crimea as part of Russia and accept that the self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk and Donetsk “are independent states.”

Peskov also stated that Russia only attacks military targets, denying reports of Russian airstrikes on civilian targets that are sheltering Ukrainian civilians.

The Russian Defense Ministry has so far not released the number of casualties it has suffered in the war in Ukraine, except for the number of 498 soldiers killed, which it said in early March.

According to United Nations estimates, at least 953 civilians have been killed and about 1,557 others injured in Ukraine since Russia began its campaign against its western neighbour. However, the United Nations warned that the toll was likely to be much higher due to increased inability to access war zones.

According to the United Nations refugee agency, the war has also forced 10 million Ukrainians to flee their homes, either internally or abroad.