Putin: Threat of Nuclear War Increases, but Russia Won't Strike First

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the threat of nuclear war is increasing, but not because of any action he has taken, stressing that Russia's nuclear weapons are only intended to protect Russia and its allies.

Putin, during a meeting on Wednesday with the Human Rights Council appointed by him, dismissed concerns that Russia might use nuclear weapons for a first strike.

He said that the strategy of the Russian military provides for the use of weapons of mass destruction in response to an attack, "which means that if a strike is directed against us, we will respond to it with a strike."

The Russian President added that Russia views nuclear weapons as a "natural deterrent."

In the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, Putin ordered nuclear weapons to be put on alert, a move seen as a message to the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) not to interfere in the war.