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Coverage dated March 21, 2022 to March 28, 2022

Putin spokesman refuses to rule out use of nuclear weapons if Russia faced an 'existential threat'

Headline from Local News 8, from the development of Mar 23, 2022

Newest development Mar 29, 2022 · 4 reportsRussia could use nuclear weapons in these situations, according to doctrine

By Luke McGee and Claire Calzonetti, CNN Russian President Vladimir Putin’s chief spokesman has conceded that Russia has yet to achieve any of its military goals in Ukraine and refused to deny that Moscow could resort to the use of nuclear weapons.

Local News 8's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

4 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Russia would use nuclear weapons amid "existential" threat: Putin spokesman

    Headline from Newsweek ·

  2. Names this update

    Putin spokesman refuses to rule out use of nuclear weapons if Russia faced an 'existential threat'

    Headline from Local News 8 ·

  3. Russia lists justifications to use nuclear weapons as Ukraine war drags on

    Headline from Newsweek ·

  4. Newest

    Russia could use nuclear weapons in these situations, according to doctrine

    Headline from Newsweek ·

3 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

22 articles, oldest first.

  1. Newsweek

    Russia would use nuclear weapons amid "existential" threat: Putin spokesman (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov referred to the country's "concept of domestic security" when asked about nuclear warfare.

  2. Forbes

    Russian Press Secretary Won’t Rule Out Use Of Nuclear Weapons (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia may use its weapons if faced with an “existential threat,” admits Russia hasn’t met its goals yet in Ukraine.

  3. Digital Journal

    Russia would only use nuclear weapons faced with 'existential threat': Kremlin (opens Digital Journal)

    Published

    Digital Journal's feed description

    Russia would only use nuclear weapons in the context of the Ukraine conflict if it were facing an "existential threat," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

  4. Insider

    Kremlin spokesperson says Putin would use nuclear weapons in face of 'existential threat' (opens Insider)

    Published

    Insider's feed description

    "President Putin intends to make the world listen to and understand our concerns," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNN.

  5. Al Jazeera

    Russia would only use nuclear weapons ‘if existence threatened’ (opens Al Jazeera)

    Published

    Al Jazeera's feed description

    Kremlin spokesperson says Russia has a ‘concept of domestic security’ that outlines when nuclear weapons can be used.

  6. Local News 8

    Putin spokesman refuses to rule out use of nuclear weapons if Russia faced an 'existential threat' (opens Local News 8)

    Published

    Local News 8's feed description

    By Luke McGee and Claire Calzonetti, CNN Russian President Vladimir Putin’s chief spokesman has conceded that Russia has yet to achieve any of its military goals in Ukraine and refused to deny that Moscow could resort to the use of nuclear weapons.

  7. Insider

    NATO chief tells Putin to stop 'nuclear saber-rattling' after Kremlin spokesperson wouldn't rule out using nukes (opens Insider)

    Published

    Insider's feed description

    Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Russia would only use nuclear weapons if its very existence was threatened.

  8. Washington Examiner

    Russia refuses to rule out nuclear weapons in face of 'existential threat' (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    Nuclear weapons are not off limits, said a leading voice from the Kremlin as Russia continues to wage its war in Ukraine.

  9. RedState

    Putin's Spokesman Won't Rule out Using Nukes if Russia's Existence Is Threatened (opens RedState)

    Published

    RedState's feed description

    Russia has nukes. We have to learn how to deal with that fact without panicking.

  10. Hot Air

    If Putin were to use nuclear weapons, what would follow? (opens Hot Air)

    Published

    Hot Air's feed description

    But what if a nuclear warhead gets through and detonates on Ukrainian soil? We should still rely on nuclear deterrence to prevent Putin from using nuclear weapons on a larger scale. It may be possible...

  11. Digital Journal

    What are 'tactical' nuclear weapons, and would Putin use them? (opens Digital Journal)

    Published

    Digital Journal's feed description

    Russia's invasion of Ukraine has raised the spectre of something considered almost unthinkable until recently: the use of a small nuclear weapon during a

  12. Newsweek

    Russia lists justifications to use nuclear weapons as Ukraine war drags on (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Even a foe's attacks with conventional weapons could merit Russia deploying its nukes, a top official warned Saturday

  13. The Guardian

    Russia reasserts right to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Senior politician Dmitry Medvedev says Moscow’s nuclear doctrine does not require enemy state to use such weapons first

  14. Newsweek

    Russia could use nuclear weapons in these situations, according to doctrine (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    A June 2020 document from the Russian Federation lays out the instances in which nuclear weapons could be used by the country.

  15. Newsweek

    Russia finally rules out using nuclear weapons over Ukraine war (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Russia has around 6,000 nuclear warheads and its nuclear doctrine does not require an adversary to use such weapons first.

  16. The Economist

    Would Russia really launch nuclear weapons? (opens The Economist)

    Published

    The Economist's feed description

    It is extremely unlikely, but the country’s military doctrine says it could

  17. CNN

    Kremlin spokesman: Russia would only use nuclear weapons when there is a threat to the country's existence (opens CNN)

    Published

    CNN's feed description

    Shelling has intensified around the suburbs of Kyiv, and Ukraine's deputy defense minister said Russian forces are attempting to establish a "corridor" around the Ukrainian capital to block supply routes. Follow here for live news updates.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.