A propaganda puppet of Vladimir Putin’s has called for Russia to use tactical nuclear weapons after Donald Trump said he would send Patriot missiles to Ukraine. Vladimir Solovyov told listeners to his radio show that Russia should target the countries which were training Ukrainian services personnel and those which would donate Patriots under the US president’s plan.
Mr Trump said on Sunday (July 13) that the US would send Ukraine Patriot air defence missiles paid for by the European Union. Germany has offered to finance two such systems, having already given three to Ukraine. The Patriots pledge came after Russia pounded cities across Ukraine, with Ukrainian air defences struggling to counter the onslaught. Ukraine saw the highest monthly civilian casualties of the past three years last month, with 232 people killd and 1,343 wounded, according to UN figures.
The US president said Ukraine “desperately” needs Patriots, telling reporters Putin had surprised a lot of people by talking nice then bombing everybody. Mr Trump said on Monday (July 14) that he would also impose secondary tariffs on Russia if a deal over the war wasn’t done in 50 days.
Exact details on how Ukraine will come by the Patriots and other weaponry on its wish-list have yet to be divulged, but reports suggest European countries will give up the systems and buy more from the US. Countries including Germany, Greece, Spain and The Netherlands have been identified as those which would be ideal donors to Ukraine due in part to their having multiple Patriots.
In response to the weapons pledge, Solovyov said the transfer of Patriots to Ukraine would mean the areas they were protecting will be “helpless”.
He added this also meant Russia should announce countries where weapons are being made for Ukraine and Ukrainian troops are undergoing training should be named as targets.
Solovyov continued: “I would also move on to using tactical nuclear weapons. We have to go down a path of escalation. During these 50 days, we should turn the territory of Ukraine into hell.”
Putin’s propaganda mouthpiece also said that 300,000 to 400,000 North Korean troops should join the war in response to Ukraine receiving 17 Patriots.
In comments translated by Russian Media Monitor, he added: “We should seriously fight on the territory of Europe… Europe should be burning in a righteous fire.”
Mr Trump had told reporters there was one coutnry with 17 Patriots, from which some of the air defence systems would be drawn. However, doubt has been cast on the figure, with sources telling Reuters no NATO member except the US has that number.
Putin has already threatened to use nuclear weapons in remarks which Kyiv said were nuclear sabre-rattling aimed at deterring western support for Ukraine.
Tactical nuclear weapons are designed for use on the battlefield and not to travel great distances. The US has about 200, with half at bases in Europe. An estimate from the Federation of American Scientists has put Russia’s count at 1,558.