"The risk of Russia using nuclear weapons against Ukraine is low, but NATO is ready for various scenarios" - Stoltenberg

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this today, October 18, during a virtual speech at the Berlin Forum on Foreign Policy, Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We are closely monitoring what they are doing. We are vigilant, especially now when they intend to conduct nuclear exercises. The risk of using nuclear weapons against Ukraine is low. But certainly the potential impact and consequences of such a move could be so great that we should take it very seriously. We clearly demonstrate to Moscow that there will be severe consequences for Russia itself if they use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. We currently see no change in their nuclear positioning or readiness. But, of course, we continue constant monitoring," Stoltenberg said.

He also noted that the Alliance should be ready for any scenario. Currently, the Kremlin uses its nuclear rhetoric to intimidate allies and force them to abandon their support for Ukraine so that Putin can win Ukraine.

"We cannot afford to be intimidated or succumb to blackmail and nuclear rhetoric. If President Putin wins in Ukraine, it will send a very dangerous message to all authoritarian leaders, saying that if they use brute force, violate international law, they will be able to achieve their goals. This will make us more vulnerable and the world more dangerous. So we have to take into account all the risks of this conflict, but also the fact that the risk, if we allow President Putin to win, would be much greater," the NATO Secretary General said.

Answering the moderator's question, he emphasized that NATO had clearly delivered a message to the Kremlin about the dire consequences for Russia itself of using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, and reminded that Russia had put its signature on the documents stating that there can be no victory in a nuclear war, and it should never be unleashed. At the same time, Stoltenberg acknowledged that the nuclear rhetoric coming from Moscow and President Putin is dangerous and insane, so these threats should be taken seriously.

He refused to specify exactly what NATO's response might be if the Kremlin leadership dares to use nuclear weapons.

According to Stoltenberg, NATO has different ways of responding, and they will not necessarily involve the use of nuclear weapons. As noted by the Secretary General of NATO, the circumstances under which the Allies will consider the use of nuclear weapons in response are "very remote". But this does not exclude a decisive response from NATO if Russia uses nuclear weapons against Ukraine.  If an attack is carried out against any ally of the Alliance, it will immediately trigger Article 5 of the Washington Treaty on Collective Defense, Stoltenberg reminded.

• The US is not going to stand by if Russia launches a nuclear attack on Ukraine, and will respond.