The chilling prospect of nuclear strikes on five NATO member states – including the UK – was openly discussed by cronies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, live on state television.
The flippant discussion, initiated by Kremlin mouthpiece Vladimir Solovyov during his evening television programme, even suggested viewers could nominate which major European city should be targeted first.
The disturbing footage, highlighted by Julia Davis, creator of the Russia Media Monitor, begins with Solovyov accusing Emmanuel Macron’s France of pushing for the “destruction of Russia”, as well as its “final solution” in a likely reference to the Holocaust.
Solovyov was likely reacting to remarks by Mr Macron published in Le Monde, which quoted him as saying in terms of support for Ukraine “there are no more red lines, there are no more limits”.
Veteran broadcaster Solovyov then asked guest Andrey Sidorov who he thought Russia should attack first.
Sidorov, a deputy dean of world politics at Moscow State University, replied: “The issue is not whether or not to use nuclear weapons, the question is against whom. You often talk about France or Great Britain.”
Solovyov injected: “France, Germany, Poland or Great Britain, yes?”
And Sidorov added: “There is another country that presents a danger…I mean the United States of America” which he argued “poses an existential threat to Russia”.
Focusing on France, Solovyov then mused: “I just can’t decide, Paris or Marseille?” Before adding Lyon to the list.
He then asked: “What should we destroy in Germany for their Taurus missiles?” With Sidorov suggesting “Hamburg”.
Solovyov then said: “Maybe we should have an audience vote. Which cities are they willing to spare.”
Sharing the video on X, Jake Broe, a former US nuclear and missile operations officer, commented: “Solovyov and all their military experts agree that Russia can nuke whoever they want in a first strike against any NATO country.
“Just another day on Kremlin State TV where they casually talk about killing hundreds of millions of people.”
Interviewed by state television today, Putin insisted his country was ready for nuclear war and hinted at a return to testing if the United States does likewise.
