Ukraine – Russia war live updates: Vladimir Putin’s ambassador says they have the right to press the nuclear button
THE RUSSIAN deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, retains the right to use nuclear weapons if the country is ‘provoked’ by NATO.
Dmitry Polyanskiy spoke to Sky News this morning in New York after Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said his boss could push the nuclear button if the country feels it is facing an “existential” threat.
When questioned if Putin is right to do this and hold the prospect of a nuclear war over the rest of the world, Mr Polyanskiy said: “If Russia is provoked by NATO, if Russia is attacked by NATO, why not, we are a nuclear power.
“I don’t think it’s the right thing to be saying. But it’s not the right thing to threaten Russia, and to try to interfere.
“So when you’re dealing with a nuclear power, of course, you have to calculate all the possible outcomes of your behaviour.”
Follow our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up-to-the-minute updates…