Use of nuclear weapons will not help Russia achieve any goals - Volker

16.06.2023 02:33

Ukrinform

Russia's use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine is unlikely, since it will not give the Kremlin any military advantages, and the Russian armed forces are not interested in experiencing the direct consequences of such a decision.

Kurt Volker, U.S. Ambassador to NATO in 2008-2009 and former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"Well, first, I think it's very unlikely. And the main reason I think it's unlikely is because it doesn't do anything for Russia militarily and doesn't help them achieve any objectives at all," the diplomat said.

He clarified that this would not help take land, hold land or win the war.

"And so I think the Russian military will not be supporting it for that reason," Volker said.

At the same time, he recalled that the United States and other countries had warned the Kremlin that the use of weapons of mass destruction would lead to direct consequences for the Russian military. Therefore, he believes, "the Russian military wants to avoid that."

The former ambassador noted that the potential danger of the Russians damaging the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant "seems more of a possibility."

In such a situation, according to him, the West should speed up the delivery of weapons to Ukraine and help the Ukrainians achieve a decisive victory so that Russia has less time and fewer opportunities to do more damage.