Russia ‘ready’ for nuclear war, Putin claims
POLITICOMar 13
Russia 'Ready' for Nuclear War, Putin Says
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The Facts
In an interview with Russian media ahead of the country's elections commencing on Friday, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin said that the country is technically "ready" for a nuclear war should it break out, but added that he doesn't see the world "rushing" in that direction.
The remarks were presented by English-speaking media as a nuclear threat to the West and more saber-rattling on the part of the Russian leader.
The Spin
Narrative B
Putin's specific remarks were in response to a direct question about whether Russia was "really" ready to use nuclear weapons if they were needed. He reiterated Russia's longstanding nuclear doctrine that states such weapons can only be used if the existence of the Russian state was under threat — something he said is unlikely.
Nerd narrative
There's a 20% chance that a nuclear weapon will be detonated as an act of war by 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
