Russia is bringing the issue of nuclear weapons back to the fore just hours after two drone assassination attempts on President Putin that it claims were foiled by the Kremlin, while former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is issuing direct threats against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

As he stated on Wednesday Deputy Minister of Defense Alexander Fomin during briefing for military attachés, the Russian approach to nuclear deterrence is defensive in nature.

“Based on doctrinal documents, Russian approaches to nuclear deterrence were discussed. It was noted that the activities of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear deterrence are of a defensive nature and are aimed at the guaranteed protection of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Fomin said.

He also said that measures should be taken to ensure the security of the union state of Russia and Belarus. These steps will be, as he said, a response to the escalation of NATO, he said.

At the same time, the deputy minister “assessed the actions of the US for the development of nuclear weapons in Europe, as well as the joint activities with NATO to prepare and conduct nuclear missions with the participation of the air forces of states that do not have nuclear weapons”. the statement said. “Russian demands to end such practices and withdraw American nuclear weapons from the national territory were rejected by the United States and its NATO allies,” Fomin concluded.

Medvedev’s threats against Zelensky

At the same time, the Russian ex-president launched threats against the Ukrainian president and his “clique”. As he characteristically said, the alleged drone attacks on the Kremlin from Kiev leave Moscow with no other choice but to “exterminate” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his “clique”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied, however, that Kiev was behind the incident, which according to the Kremlin was an attempt on the life of Russian President Vladimir Putin.