(Kyiv) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday called on the world to “prepare” for Russia’s possible use of its nuclear weapons, during an interview with several Ukrainian media.
Posted at 11:55 a.m.
Updated at 3:24 p.m.
“We should not wait for Russia to decide to use its nuclear weapons. We have to prepare for this,” he said in the interview broadcast by six Ukrainian news sites, as well as the Ukrainian presidency on Telegram.
We need “drugs (against radiation), air-raid shelters,” he said. “We have to talk to them, sign treaties, crack down economically. (The Russians) can use any weapon, I’m sure. »
On Friday, Volodymyr Zelensky had already judged that “the whole world” should be “worried” about the risk that Russian President Vladimir Putin, cornered by his military setbacks in Ukraine, will resort to a tactical nuclear weapon.
RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY ARCHIVE PHOTO BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Russian intercontinental missile tested in 2020 by the Russian army.
“Not just me, I think the whole world, all countries should be worried,” he said on the American channel CNN.
He echoed the statements to this effect of the head of American foreign intelligence William Burns who had estimated the day before that such a threat should not be “taken lightly”.
“We haven’t really seen any concrete signs such as deployments or military measures that could aggravate our concerns”, however qualified the head of the CIA.
After the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the Kremlin briefly mentioned putting its nuclear forces on alert.
Moscow will only use nuclear weapons in Ukraine in the event of an “existential threat” against Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov then declared on CNN, without further details.
According to the highly respected Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Russia is equipped with “1,588 deployed Russian nuclear warheads”, including 812 on land-based missiles, 576 on submarines and 200 on bombers.
Halt of negotiations
President Zelensky also warned on Saturday that the “elimination” of the last Ukrainian soldiers present in the port city of Mariupol besieged by Russian forces “would put an end to all peace negotiations” with Moscow.
PHOTO ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO, REUTERS
A resident of Mariupol walks on a street where the bodies of civilians killed during clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces lie.
“The elimination of our soldiers, of our men (in Mariupol) will put an end to any negotiation” of peace between Russia and Ukraine, declared Mr. Zelensky during an interview with several Ukrainian media, warning that the two parties would then find themselves in “an impasse”.
In terms of the human toll, “Mariupol, that can be ten times Borodyanka”, a small Ukrainian town near Kyiv destroyed after being shelled and the scene of alleged abuses during its occupation by Russian soldiers, accused Mr. Zelensky.
“And the more Borodyanka there are, the more difficult it will be” to negotiate, he stressed. “To be honest, we have no confidence in the negotiations regarding Mariupol. »
After the Ukrainian army announced on April 11 that it was preparing for “a final battle” in this southeastern city, Mr. Zelensky admitted a “very difficult situation”.
“Our soldiers are surrounded,” he said. “Despite everything, the guys continue to defend themselves. »
Forty days after it began, the fighting is now concentrated in the vast industrial zone of Mariupol, near the Sea of Azov. “Contact” is maintained with the Ukrainian forces on the spot, said Mr. Zelensky.
“It’s a humanitarian crisis, there is no food, water or medicine,” he added, accusing Russia of “refusing” the establishment of humanitarian corridors.
PHOTO REUTERS
Russian and Pro-Russian soldiers gathered on a road to Mariupol.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian authorities predicted a death toll of 20,000 to 22,000 in Mariupol, a strategic city with a peacetime population of 441,000.
Talks between the belligerents have been stalled for several days. They are “extremely difficult” according to the words of an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, Mykhaïlo Podoliak, on Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused Ukrainian negotiators of “lack of consistency”.
On Saturday, Mr. Zelensky said he wanted a peace treaty with Moscow consisting of “two separate documents”. “One of the two will concern security guarantees for Ukraine, the other (will concern) its relations with Russia directly. »
In this first document, Ukraine’s security would be guaranteed by certain countries “having shown” their interest, such as “the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, Turkey”, he said in this same interview with the Ukrainian media.
“Moscow would like to have a single treaty […] but not all of them really see themselves talking to Russia,” added the Ukrainian president.