Russia again threatens with nuclear weapons: what is happening on the front and in the UN
Against the backdrop of stabilization on the front, Russia is ramping up its nuclear rhetoric. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service claimed that allegedly, Britain and France are working on transferring nuclear weapons to Ukraine. These unconfirmed accusations are accompanied by direct threats: Dmitry Medvedev threatened nuclear strikes on Ukraine, Britain, and France, while Vladimir Putin also stated plans to use nuclear weapons.
As noted by one analyst, this may be an attempt by Moscow to justify the refusal of previous negotiating concessions:
“Look, Ukraine, Ukraine there is Europe. They have crossed the nuclear threshold. Therefore, everything we previously agreed to, those concessions we were willing to make, are no longer relevant”
Diplomatic struggle in the UN
At the same time, a diplomatic struggle is ongoing. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the anniversary of the invasion, calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops and the return of Ukraine's borders to 1991. The document was voted on by:
- 107 countries - for
- 12 countries - against
- 51 states - abstained, including the USA, China, and India
Washington attempted to soften the text, proposing to remove the paragraphs on territorial integrity, but this amendment was supported by only 11 states. At the same time, the possibility of new negotiations is being discussed. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated:
“I want to meet with Putin, I need to talk to him”
However, their last personal meeting took place in Paris back in December 2019, and the prospects for a new meeting remain uncertain.