Fresh World War Three fears have been sparked over the possibility of Vladimir Putin deploying nuclear weapons, unleashing chaos on the rest of the world. A worrying report sent to Express.co.uk by the Henry Jackson Society think tank, analysed the possibility of the Russian President’s use of nukes to break the stalemate in the war on Ukraine.
Associate Fellow Dr Bahram Ghiassee, a London-based Nuclear Consultant and academic, warned in his report, titled ‘Ukraine’s Nuclear Shadow: National Security Implications for NATO and the UK’, that Russia’s next move could result in an alarming terrorist threat for the UK and other NATO allies.
He wrote: “A nuclear attack on Ukraine, using low-yield tactical weapons, could affect a number of NATO members, in particular Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, due to the transboundary impact of the radioactive fallout, and other radioactive particles. It could, thus, be construed as a radiological weapon attack against NATO allies, invoking the provisions of Article 5 of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty) and warranting a collective response by NATO.
“Reciprocal action by NATO, including deploying tactical nuclear weapons, could ensue. The US, in line with NATO’s ‘Nuclear Deterrence Policy’, has some 100 tactical nuclear gravity bombs (B-61) stationed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Türkiye.
“The UK Government has noted that ‘NATO is the foundation of collective security in the EuroAtlantic, and our commitment to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty is our most powerful deterrent’.
“The UK Government has also stated, as a matter of policy, that ‘We would consider using our nuclear weapons only in extreme circumstances of self-defence, including the defence of our NATO allies’.”
“The direct involvement of France and the UK,” Dr Ghiassee continued, “deploying their advanced nuclear missiles, under the auspices of NATO, could lead to a major nuclear confrontation in Europe”.
The warning comes as the White House pointed on Monday to newly declassified intelligence that shows Ukraine has inflicted heavy losses on Russia in recent fighting along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis — including 13,000 casualties and over 220 combat vehicle losses. The Ukrainian holdout in the country’s partly-occupied east has been the center of some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks.
US intelligence officials have determined that the Russians think if they can achieve a military deadlock through the winter it will drain Western support for Ukraine and ultimately give Russia the advantage, despite the fact that Russians have sustained heavy losses and have been slowed by persistent shortages of trained personnel, munitions, and equipment.
“Russia is determined to press forward with its offensive despite its losses. It is more critical now than ever that we maintain our support for Ukraine so they can continue to hold the line and regain their territory,” said White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson. She added that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is clearly watching what happens in Congress — and we need Congress to act this month to support Ukraine in its time of need.”
