nuclear weapons — but should he pull the trigger, his own military might not obey him, according to a former U.S. ambassador to NATO.That’s because the Russian forces likely know what consequences await them if they do, Kurt Volker told The West Block’s Mercedes Stephenson in an interview, airing Sunday.“He’s been told very clearly by the United States, by NATO, that any use of nuclear weapons — any use — would be met with a devastating response.
The military knows that and believes it,” Volker said.“I think it’s questionable whether, even if they were given the order, they would decide to deploy a tactical nuclear weapon.
Because they know the consequences on themselves.” Russian nuclear attack in Ukraine would cross ‘very important line,’ NATO chief warns If the Russian forces know the potential ramifications of firing a nuclear weapon, Volker said Putin likely knows that, too — and he “might be cautious about giving an order that’s not followed.”Volker’s comments come as Moscow has ramped up its nuclear rhetoric in recent weeks, as a fierce Ukrainian counteroffensive has pushed Russian forces back in a series of embarrassing defeats.
In a bid to slow the setbacks, Putin illegally annexed four Ukrainian regions and ordered a partial mobilization of troops to the regions.In response, many Russian residents have fled the country to avoid being forced to fight.All in all, while Putin “has made it clear he is going to fight till the end,” Volker said, “we know he doesn’t have the means to do it.”“They’re having to retreat.