Putin threatens troops on the Finnish border and nuclear weapons – “We are ready” – 2024-03-13 17:32:58

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country’s nuclear weapons are ready. EPA/AOP

In a recent TV interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatens to move troops to the Finnish border.

– We haven’t had troops (at the Finnish border), but now there will be. There have been no weapon systems there, there will be in the future, he stated to Russia’s Rossiya-1 channel.

Putin practically repeated previous statements heard from Russia, which talked about strengthening the Western military circle. He mentioned the same thing recently, among other things, in his State of the Nation speech.

However, several experts have pointed out that Russia’s resources are currently tied up in Ukraine, and no concrete actions in the areas beyond the Finnish border are expected in the near future.

In the same context, Putin also belittled the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden. He also wondered why Finland and Sweden thought it necessary to join the defense alliance in general.

– This was an absolutely meaningless step from the point of view of securing the national interests of these countries, he said.

Nuclear weapons at the ready

During the interview, Putin also stated that “new threats from the West” require Russia to update its own situational picture. The propagandist Dmitri Kiselyov, who interviewed Putin, asked him, among other things, whether Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons.

– From a military-technical point of view, we are of course ready. Our nuclear forces are always ready to fight, he replied.

According to the Russian state-owned news agency Ria, Putin was also asked whether Russia could use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Putin referred to Russia’s nuclear weapons doctrine, according to which Russia will use nuclear weapons if its existence is threatened.

However, Putin added a chilling note to the beginning of his answer.

– The weapons are there to be used. We have our own principles, he said.

– Our principles say that we are ready to use all weapons, including the weapons you mentioned, if it is about Russia’s existence or if Russia’s sovereignty or independence are threatened.

Putin points out that “everything is written down in our strategy” and this has not been changed. He added that the United States is also developing its own nuclear weapons forces.

– However, in my opinion, that does not mean that they are ready to start a nuclear war, he said.