'Ready to Escalate': Russia Urged to 'Demonstrate' Nuclear Explosion to Deter West Amid World War III Fears

A Russian think tank, influential in shaping the nation's policies, has proposed that President Vladimir Putin consider a "demonstrative" nuclear explosion to dissuade the West from supporting Ukraine.

This suggestion from Dmitry Suslov, a senior member of the Council for Foreign and Defence Policy, was published in the Russian business magazine Profile in late May 2024. It followed Putin's warning about Ukraine's use of Western weapons against Russian territories, Knewz.com reported.

Suslov argued that a demonstration nuclear explosion, rather than a military one, could serve as a powerful political and psychological deterrent.

He suggested that the sight of a nuclear mushroom cloud broadcasted worldwide would remind Western politicians of the fear of nuclear war, which has largely dissipated since the Cold War.

At the time of his suggestion, Western allies of Ukraine were debating the extent of the nation's use of foreign weapons in its conflict with Russia.

Germany and the United States were hesitant about allowing Ukraine to strike beyond its borders with their weapons. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed his position against such actions in an interview on May 26, emphasizing agreed-upon rules with Ukraine.

Suslov warned that allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons on Russian territory would escalate the conflict to a new level, potentially leading to a direct confrontation between the United States, NATO, and Russia. He emphasized that such a development could ultimately result in a nuclear war, given the conventional weapon superiority of the US and NATO over Russia.

To prevent this escalation, Suslov suggested a mock nuclear explosion as a tangible threat to deter the West from further involving Ukraine in the conflict. His proposal came a day after Putin had cautioned the West about the serious consequences of continued escalation, warning NATO members of the dangers they were courting.

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Following Ukraine's first use of American munitions to attack Russian targets in early June, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reiterated Putin's warning, cautioning American leaders against underestimating the potential consequences.

While Suslov's think tank holds significant influence over Kremlin policies, Russia has yet to officially respond to his statement.

However, Western security experts are increasingly concerned about Russia edging closer to nuclear tests. Reuters reported that the Kremlin has not commented on Suslov's proposal but has indicated its dissatisfaction with the West's aggressive rhetoric by conducting tactical nuclear weapons drills earlier in the month.