Russia: Ukrainian Takeover Of Crimea Would Justify The Use Of Nuclear Weapons By Russia.

Russia claims it will nuke Ukraine over any attempt to retake Crimea in horror escalation

Tim McNulty

Russia has insisted that a Ukrainian takeover of Crimea would justify the use of nuclear weapons by Russia. Security Council Deputy Head Medvedev has issued a barrage of such strongly-worded statements in the past, blasting the US and its NATO allies for what he described as their efforts to break up and destroy Russia.

And in an interview with Russian media, Medvedev said that in the event of serious Ukranian offensives linked to the attempt to retake Crimea, the Kremlin would see it as a reason for using all means of retaliation, including those provided for by nuclear deterrence doctrine.

Asked whether the threat of a nuclear conflict had eased, Medvedev responded: "No, it hasn’t decreased, it has grown. Every day when they provide Ukraine with foreign weapons brings the nuclear apocalypse closer."

In Thursday's comments, the 57-year-old Medvedev denounced the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of alleged involvement in abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine as legally null and void.

He noted that the move added to a “colossal negative potential" in the already bitterly strained ties between Russia and the West.

He added: "Our relations with the West are already worse than they have ever been in history."

Medvedev specifically blasted German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, who said last week that Putin would be arrested on the ICC's warrant if he visits Germany.

Medvedev said: "Let's imagine ... the leader of a nuclear power visits the territory of Germany and is arrested,”

He said it would amount to a declaration of war against Russia, adding: "In this case, our assets will fly to hit the Bundestag, the chancellor's office and so on."

He noted that Russia's nuclear forces have provided a strong deterrent amid the fighting in Ukraine, adding that “we would have been torn to pieces without them".

Medvedev also challenged Ukraine’s sovereignty in comments that could reflect Moscow’s plans to extend its gains.

He said: "Honestly speaking, Ukraine is part of Russia,

"But due to geopolitical reasons and the course of history we had tolerated that we were living in separate quarters and had been forced to acknowledge those invented borders for a long time."

Medvedev launched more anti-Western diatribes Thursday, declaring that "it's useless to have talks" with the West and speaking with contempt about Western politicians, alleging a "catastrophic drop in competence and elementary literacy of European Union leaders."

He said: "I have no illusions that we could communicate with them again any time soon,

"It makes no sense to negotiate with certain countries and blocs — they only understand the language of force."