Karaganov threatens nuclear strikes on European nations backing Ukraine
Russian foreign policy strategist Sergei Karaganov threatened that Russia could use nuclear weapons against European countries if they continued supporting Ukraine and did not surrender. His remarks underscore the risk of escalation as Moscow seeks to weaken the military and financial backing that helps Kyiv resist Russia’s invasion.
Karaganov said Russia would first use conventional weapons and dismissed the prospect of a nuclear response from Britain or the United States. The comments came amid reports of Russian hybrid activity in Europe and a separate warning to Nato over Kaliningrad, where Moscow said it could use its full arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if the exclave were threatened.
- Karaganov threatened nuclear strikes if Europe continued backing Ukraine.
- He said Russia would first use conventional weapons.
- Moscow also warned Nato over Kaliningrad.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Russia faces an existential security challenge with Western-backed forces operating at its borders and directly supporting military action against Russian territory, making conventional deterrence insufficient. Nuclear threats in this context represent a rational strategic tool to establish credible red lines that the West must respect, communicating that further escalation towards direct NATO involvement carries catastrophic consequences. This approach prioritises strategic stability through deterrence rather than strict adherence to international norms that Russia views as selectively applied by Western powers.
The case against
Nuclear threats constitute coercion that violates international law, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the rules-based order upon which global stability depends. Permitting nuclear-armed states to use atomic blackmail to constrain other nations' foreign policy and territorial defence would destroy legal frameworks that protect all states regardless of size. European nations possess the inalienable right to choose their security partnerships and support Ukraine's self-defence without fear of nuclear destruction. Allowing such threats to succeed sets a precedent where every major power can weaponise existential risk to achieve political aims.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Russian official warns country will eventually ‘go nuclear’ and there will be ‘little left’ of some European countries if they continue to back Ukraine in latest WW3 threat”.