EU Ambassador in Moscow: “Tactical use of nuclear weapon is discussed in Russia”

The head of the European Union (EU) delegation in the Russian Federation, Markus Ederer, stated that the Russian authorities are discussing the possibility of using nuclear weapons in a “tactical” way, with the aim of de-escalating the conflict caused by the invasion of Ukraine.

“In the corresponding circles there is a debate about using tactical nuclear weapons, it is not nuclear ‘armageddon’, but to demonstrate that if the enemy continues its advances, nuclear weapons are an option”, indicated Ederer during an appearance in the Human Rights Subcommittee of the European Parliament.

Ederer referred to the possible threat of atomic weapons from the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and made it clear that the EU does not have “intelligence agents” that can provide that information, although he did point out that there has been a “change in the formulation of the Russian security strategy”.

“A nuclear device can be used to stop a conventional attack on Russia. It is a doctrine of escalation to de-escalate the conflict”, he stressed, while making it clear that he does not know if atomic power will eventually be used in this crisis.

“I don’t know if nuclear weapons are going to be used, I’m not saying that especially now in the current context”, he pointed out.

The community ambassador acknowledged that sometimes he is concerned “the language we use” when speaking of “economic war” due to the sanctions that the EU has imposed on Russia.

“Perceptions also affect reality and there are perceptions that can foster the idea that we are at war with Russia, and this can be a justification for moving forward”, he warned.

The European diplomat also warned that “perhaps we have not reached the last phase of the climb”.

“The Kremlin is following a path of escalation and I do not believe that these peace talks are part of a plan whereby diplomacy prevails.”, he said about the negotiations between delegations from Russia and Ukraine.

He explained that “Russian aggression is paralyzed to a certain extent but, due to their superiority, the Russians will achieve some of their objectives.”

“The Russian president is not willing to see himself as a loser on the battlefield, so the question is how to get out of this dynamic of escalation. What we see now is what qualifies as climbing dominance”, he indicated, adding that “in our European mindset we should not underestimate the degree of escalation to which the Russian president is willing to go.”

Ederer also alluded to interventions by MEPs on the possibility of “try to influence the Russian attitude”. “We’re not very good at that and I don’t think the Kremlin is going to be influenced by us either.” acknowledged, adding that “We already make some mistakes.”

For example, he lamented that some Member States have stopped issuing visas to Russian citizens and called for “check” that situation and also take into account “students, the segment of the population that seeks information online and not through official media”.

“There are European universities that have started expelling their Russian students. That is a big mistake. What should be done is to extend the Erasmus program massively, invite new generations to see how we live and how we think”, he defended.

Regarding the violation of Swedish airspace by four Russian fighter planes, Ederer indicated that it is “a very common pattern that Russia is using in this case to escalate the conflict and dominate.”