All about the nuclear balance in Europe — how many weapons and who controls them

With Ukraine putting up a stiff resistance, Vladimir Putin has reiterated his nuclear threat for the second time by ordering 'Russian nuclear forces to be put on high alert'.

A flag with an anti-nuclear symbol during a demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on 27 February 2022 | Photo: Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz | Bloomberg

New Delhi: As Russia launched its invasion into Ukraine on 24 February, President Vladimir Putin warned the West to not intervene in the conflict, extolling that any intervention would lead to “such consequences that you have never encountered in your history”, in a veiled threat at nuclear escalation.

With Ukraine putting up a stiff resistance and not capitulating as the Russians had imagined, Putin again reiterated his nuclear threat by ordering “Russian nuclear forces to be put on high alert” on Sunday.

While many analysts saw this as hard posturing by Russia to get Ukraine on the negotiating table, given the Ukrainian President had rejected previous offers of talks, shortly after this statement — Ukraine agreed to talks in Belarus.

Europe’s nuclear arsenal

GFX by ThePrint Team

GFX by ThePrint Team