Wed Sep 25 09:24:05 UTC 2024: ## Putin to Chair Meeting on Nuclear Deterrence Amidst Tensions with West Over Ukraine War
**Moscow, Russia** – President Vladimir Putin will chair a meeting of Russia’s Security Council on nuclear deterrence on Wednesday, raising concerns about escalating tensions in the Ukraine war.
The meeting, described by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as an important event, comes amidst growing friction between Russia and the West over Ukraine’s requests for long-range Western missiles capable of striking deep inside Russia.
Putin, the primary decision-maker on Russia’s nuclear arsenal, is reportedly considering a response to the potential supply of such weapons. He has warned that allowing Ukraine to use these missiles would be seen as direct involvement in the conflict and could force Russia to take “appropriate decisions.”
The Kremlin’s concerns are fueled by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s repeated calls for Western allies to provide these missiles, arguing that they are necessary to limit Russia’s ability to launch attacks.
Meanwhile, Russia’s military advances in eastern Ukraine have led to the most dangerous phase of the war yet, according to Russian officials. The war’s escalation has prompted NATO to prepare for potential mass casualties by coordinating the transport of wounded troops via hospital trains, as air evacuations might not be feasible.
The war has also renewed concerns about the potential for a global conflict, as Russia is currently revising its nuclear doctrine and the Cold War-era arms control treaties that sought to limit the arms race are crumbling.
The Kremlin has emphasized that any negotiations regarding a replacement for the U.S.-Russia New START Treaty, which expires in 2026, must include the nuclear potential of European nations, particularly Britain and France.
The situation underscores the growing anxieties surrounding the escalating conflict in Ukraine and the increasing risk of a nuclear confrontation. With both Russia and the West remaining resolute in their positions, the world watches anxiously for the outcome of Putin’s upcoming meeting and its potential ramifications.
First Piper 