MOSCOW: An ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning to the United States (US), claiming that Russia has the capability to destroy any enemy, including the US, if its own existence is threatened.
Nikolai Patrushev, the influential secretary of Russia’s Security Council, accused Washington of underestimating Moscow’s nuclear might and dismissed the notion that the US could launch a preventive missile strike and avoid Russian retaliation.
Patrushev’s comments follow a series of warnings from senior Russian officials about the potential for a nuclear showdown between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
Russia accuses West of making nuclear threats
Russia has accused the West of making nuclear threats against it and has spoken of its readiness to use nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances.
President Putin has also announced that Russia will station tactical nuclear missiles in Belarus, a move seen as a warning to NATO over its military support for Ukraine and escalating tensions with the West.
The situation has raised concerns about the potential for a new Cold War-style arms race and calls for diplomacy to avoid a catastrophic conflict.
