a current, gee, more people than ever on the move worldwide in search of a better life. one of us and so it as a committee, god, the hello, he goes out. actually there now or is it a mac on the moon, the god largely or for condense to okay. the thing nanda key donation one back. so they can find out about robina story in for my grand reliable news for migraines. wherever they may be, president vladimir puddings announcement that he plans to station tactical nuclear weapons and bella rules has raised concerns about further escalation. this is the 1st time since the 19 ninety's that russia will deploy arms outside of its borders . russian forces have had little success in that aggressive campaign in ukraine,

which has increased feels in europe that the russian president made has ought to nuclear weapons out of desperation. meanwhile, the rest has supplied ukraine with modern bottle tanks that could be used in a possible spring offensive. so on to the point, we ask both ends, atomic weapons plan is the new kayla's driving me with hello and welcome to, to the point. it's good to have you with us. how serious is the nuclear threat to understand this? i have 3 esteem guests with me today. given a dawn group is a journalist. she walks with one of germany's public broadcasting radio stations deutsche on funk, given a girl of russian affairs and has lived and worked and moscow as a foreign correspondent for dia. i'm a clara aunt is

a fellow for global security and nuclear policy at the european leadership network, e l n. she writes on nuclear policy on strategic stability issues as the law drops, atlantic security. and joining us from bon is my ukranian colleague roman gone to wrinkle. he works for the w's russian desk and has been extensively covering the war for the last one year. a very warm welcome to all of you. now, what more do i did put in to take this decision, how it would be executed? we'll discuss all that in a bit. but to begin with, very briefly, i'd like to understand from each one of you, what does this mean for all the parties that are involved? what does it mean for russia and belittles? it means that the bill is almost totally dependent on russia. this is at 1st means that below rules might be even more involved in the war against

ukraine. and i think that all saw it might be a demonstration of russia to be not totally depending on china because china i was against the act. i know what does it mean for nato and for the european union bay briefly for later in the european union, i think it means that russia is continuing its nuclear rhetoric, which it has been engaged in since the beginning of its full scale invasion of ukraine last year russia issued a lot of statements and has engaged in actions which have raised the spectre of nuclear weapons use again and again. and i think that is another instance of russia raising the specter of nuclear use in ukraine to intimidate western populations and decision makers. roman dollar deal. how do you see it? what does this mean for ukraine?

i think for your crying, there are 2 important points. one is that the danger from bella ross is growing. so bell rous was used by russia for an attack on ukraine a year ago. by the, this major invasion and russia could try to do it again by the 2nd point. and it is even more dangerous for ukraine is that the west will be and will, will be a stopped by this decision from a delivering or prevented by from delivering a more weapons to crane and stronger weapons. weapons that could strike as many hundreds of kilometers deep in russian territory or a detective now occupied by russia. and as if it's something that ukraine would like to get from the west for those missiles and m e fruchey's escalating on the nuclear level or threatening to escalate by deploying those weapons to bellows close to the ukrainian border. that might be kind of a stop shield for the worst,

and to think twice about delivering those weapons like and missiles offset or, for example, a jet airplanes. now vladimir within believes that there's nothing unusual about this more after all the united states has done it. he says, but the russian president's announcement provoked outrage in the west, especially in germany. tactical nuclear weapons like this is scanned or missile are designed to be used in a combat zone and are therefore often referred to as battlefield weapons. they have lower destructive power and range than strategic nuclear weapons, but they are more precise. that is one of the reasons why germany reacted with alarm and spoke of another attempt at nuclear intimidation. russian president, vladimir putin on the other hand, sees no breach of law in the stationing the student union. but there is nothing

unusual here either. what beautifully the united states has been doing this for decades. eugene, they have long placed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allies, nato countries in europe. so you think of some of them will be routed. the u. s. has reacted calmly emphasizing there is still no evidence that russia is planning to use the nuclear weapons. some analysts regard the deployment as saber rattling ahead of an imminent ukrainian offensive and further western arms shipments. would this stationing increase the danger of nuclear escalation in the war in ukraine? guessing this is not the 1st time that russia has used the n word. is the threat for real this time, or is it more lay the boy who cried wolf? i think it's again a new step of intimidation or trying to intimidate the west because oh, russia already deployed nuclear weapons or to coleen ingram to which belongs to

russia, but also is very close to the european union. this is one step and, and i think that, oh, put in really understands that the trust in the west towards these intimidation and is falling. so he needs to do the next step and the step and the next step. and it's very important not to ignore it, but i think it's really, as it was said before, he tries to prevent the west from delivering those weapons. that would really might be a game changer because they would be able to reach a russian occupied territory. and even our russian occupied crimea. so do you think this is a distraction because a lot of people are calling it bluff. ah, this is a big word. i wouldn't say it's the bluff but on. but i think of the west should.

oh, really think well about on the threads and the dangers and ask themselves and discuss what would be worse for the west if for ukraine would be defeated or if there would be, oh, i don't know. 123 percent of really a tactical use of tactical nukes, tactical nukes. now, a lot of people actually don't understand the difference. so if you could just explain what are tactical meals, what's the other one that is being used? and how are tactical nuclear weapons actually important in planning military actions, also very tactical or non strategic and strategic nuclear weapons. and there is no agreed definition of what kinds constitutes strategic or non strategic nuclear weapons bed. and non strategic, tactical nuclear weapons have a shorter range and they have

a lower yield. so they have less that destructive potential. but they are still extremely destructive, of course. and the notion or the, the name tactical in place that they could be used on the battlefield. but it is highly disputed, what tactical nuclear weapons years on the at field could actually serve. so we just saw that building, see if america has been doing that as well. so it's a big deal. it's not unusual. now, if it is not illegal, if it does not violate any agreement, then why should need to have any problem with it. well, the political context matters here. nato, of course, has an in clear sharing agreements with 5 states in europe who are hosting us nuclear weapons. but these arrangements have been in place since the cold war. they have not substantially been changed after the cold war, and the number of nuclear weapons stationed in europe has decreased after the cold war. russia now announcing that it might put in place

a new nuclear sharing arrangement in europe in the context of a war of aggression as it is waiting against ukraine in the context of aggressive nuclear rhetoric. it has been engaging and so this political context matters and how this announcement is of course, perceived. but i would tend to agree with guessing that this is probably another instance of nuclear saber rattling, but do we know the number of you talked about, the american nukes that are there in europe, in germany as well? do we know how many nuclear weapons are we talking about that america has here, and what is russia plenty. yeah. well, especially when it comes to and as a recent announcement i put in, it's still very unclear what he actually is planning to do. yes. so far mainly that the new thing and his announcement mainly was that and, and nuclear storage facility is supposed to be ready by july. first, experts have doubts as to whether this is actually feasible and put in also has a history of announcing things that he does than doesn't follow through on. so it

really remains to be seen at the nuclear sharing arrangement will look like and in terms of numbers, it's really impossible to tell right now if i may add something, i think the comparison makes that, or between deploying nuclear weapons to barrels, to directly to the border with our nato and of the west having a nukes in our other european countries. that doesn't work very well, because shouldn't we ask if i think it would be a very significant if of the u. s. head nukes and poland, close to the yellow rosen border and to russian's fear of influence. isn't that right? yeah, i would also add that russia already has the capability to, to reach targets and ukraine. so if it's to applies and nuclear weapons to better rates or not, and next, very little difference in military terms, i shall come back to that point roman. now ukraine, after bolton's announcement,

ukraine has said that it would like to have an emergency meeting of you and security council. do you see that happening? and even if that happens, do you think that that is going to make any change? i don't think it will make any change, and russia will be taking over the chairmanship in the un security council in april . would sure ukrainians find ridiculous. and anyway, i think that ukraine is at a critical point after this announcement by russia. because as i've just said, russia might be trying to put more pressure on the west, not to deliver certain types of weapons. and this is in my, in my opinion, the major reason that prevents the worst from delivering the ukraine to weapons. it needs to win this war, and this is the only time card that russia can play to prevent it and to stop it. and ukrainians already said that in the russian decision to deploy in nuclear

weapons in bella ross is a sign that russia is not winning on the battlefield. or at least not as fast as it was hoping for. and one more point, i think, why it is, could be dangerous for ukraine, because, or russia might use it to put more pressure on the west and on ukraine to accept some kind of a peace deal or negotiations about a peace deal, a settlement. and at this stage, a peace deal or settlement, or cease fire is, is a problem for ukraine, but it was, it would legitimize russian occupation. and ukraine is trying to prevent it. but by raising the stakes and making this announcement, and actually deploying the tactical nuclear weapons and bellows, russia is trying to put more pressure on the west also to negotiate. and we can also remember that china, china had an initiative to 12 points or how to reach abuse deal in ukraine or at

least a ceasefire. and we still don't know if any will come out of it because the chinese leader hasn't spoken to the ukrainian president vladimir landscape or for a man just mentioned be still, do you think that's going to happen anytime soon? and especially after such an announcement, i can predict the future, but right now it seems that both sides are believing that they can make progress on the battle. so i think that those are not the conditions for peace negotiations. are there? yeah. because i agree, and i think a few days ago just for me to please call the speaker of put in said that the currently there is no possibility to come to a piece of wire negotiations. and coming back to the point you were making earlier, russia already has gone in grad then why better was, why does it need to deploy nuclear weapons over there? um, i think it's a at 1st, as i said before, is it's one moral step to intimidate the west. and because we are at

a critical point, ukraine is expected to deliver a counter offensive of this spring. and an expert say that this of this year is really critical for the further development of the war. and the, and, and even the minister of defense of the united states, lloyd austin has had this week that he considers the chances of such a counter offensive. very and not very, but he said it's positive due to the modern western weapons and due to the high losses on the russian side, which is not only our soldiers but also on tanks and, and go back and re so this is really a critical point. and very much depends on whether and when the westwood even live or more modern weapons and especially long ranging missiles are there was

some information from the ministry of defense in russia this week that they are down a long ranging u. s. miss how this might be this information. it's not, not sure, because we don't know really, don't know if those new tires are already on the ground in ukraine. but this information from moscow shows that it's very important and very sensitive for russia. and i think this is the main reason why put in made this announcement this week, the fact themselves, the preparation was done before so it was expected. so tensions continue, even after 13 months. the industry's enough to nance is at the epicenter of russian attacks. after many unsuccessful attempts to capture the town of buck mode in the region, russian forces have now shifted their focus. 2 of the foot is released by the state

police show scenes of devastation in the front lines at the these images are like something out of a post apocalyptic film. the frontline town of, of decode, north of dawn ask, has become practically uninhabitable due to heavy russian bombing. ukrainian authorities want to evacuate their employees as well as the remaining residents. those responsible warren, that the city could become a 2nd back moot. but ukraine urgently needs more soldiers at the front to drive the russian army out of deacon military. experts say that although the ukrainians motivation to fight remains high, there are insufficient numbers of volunteers, despite intensive recruitment campaigns. more and more men are therefore receiving draft notices. precedents, zalinski is calling for perseverance, said no problem. so it is wrong and unfair. when our warriors who come from the

front, let's have the feeling that for many in the rear, the war is supposedly already over sheila's. russia is also running out of soldiers . according to experts, most of the newly mobilized forces are civilians with no previous military experience. does ukraine still have the strength to fight back? i shall come to that question because in fust, what does the aim off shifting the i back to of the if gonna. i'm not sure that this is the a shift really i think the off hives continue at both places. um and of the russians. a few days ago we heard that they were less successful, but right now in bad moods or the russians control about 2 thirds of the city itself. so i would not, i would not, not ignore what's happening and partner,

but anyway, enough div car. this is a place where fights heavy fighting have gone on since since years already since 2014. and it's just, i think that russia reacts of flexible on the ukrainian counter counter offensive and out of the of car is very important for both sides because it is very close to don't ask the center of the don't ask region. roman does ukraine still have strength to fight back? it does, and you can use the time this winter to prepare for a major offensive. we are expecting in the coming weeks is still waiting for western and heavy weapons to come. we are seeing tanks being delivered, but it is not enough and some countries said that they will send tanks after easter

. so ukrainian still waiting, waiting also for the weather conditions to improve but you are right. or you can use the winter to, to, to or to train the soldiers. several new units are formed. and it is, exp, especially for the, for this spring offensive. and ukraine has been withholding the new forces from, for example, fighting in blackboard. because it hoped to use them in spring and then and had to use it to, to send at least some of the new for forces not to lose board. but russia is putting more and more pressure on ukrainian forces. they are in the east. and as it gets in a dauntless absolutely, rightly pointed out, russia is also a taking further north of div in marine car and in other places. so russia is attacking on several points of the front stretching ukrainian forces. and this is the critical point, because the ukrainian army does not have enough soldiers to fight back

a major russian offensive. so both sides are tired, but russia has appears to have more resources, more man power. both sides are tired and a does equal pressure on both ukraine and russia. when it comes to soldiers, when it comes to drops and weapons, the situation is going back on what the sites, what, where do you see is the situation verse, as of now, that's really difficult to tell and understand because of course, as i have an interest in underwriting their own losses, and so it's really difficult to say from linda's and that, and i might, are coming back to the nuclear rhetoric that this intensification of the nuclear rhetoric right now suggests that russia is really trying to use all levers to, to, to gain leverage again, in this, in this current situation and to deter, or at least slow down further western support for ukraine as we have mentioned before as well. so the suggest that russia is really trying to use all the tools it

has to, to, to improve it, situate how would need to tackle the situation. well, i think nato has been, or has been reacting very calmly to the nuclear rhetoric as well. and so i think that's good not to increase the risk further and to remain vigilant and monitor what russia is actually doing. right. so what it is saying and to react when that is actually required. but so far, nothing seems to change on the nuclear field in terms of the nuclear posture of russia and an on the battle ground. it is important, of course, that western states continues a plane military assistance to ukraine as they are doing. so nato is doing everything it can. germany, andree and britain, have kept their promises and delivered heavy battle dogs to ukraine for the 1st time since the war began. after much hesitation on the part of the federal government, 18 german lever dogs have now arrived in new britain. the british challenge,

adult dogs were also delivered. didn't had pledged 14 of them. these could be used in a ukrainian spring offensive final tarts, anna vill these tanks be a game changer? now i remember in the beginning you said that could be a game changer, but considering the small number, will these be a game changer? very briefly, they are coming to the end of the show now also for it. and so remember that they are part of a larger package of military assistance, or maybe the 8 in tanks, but by themselves will not be a game changer. but the advanced weaponry that is being delivered to ukraine as part of the starter package, including these 18 tanks, will be very important. and ukraine spring offensive if it comes from on. do you think these western diets could help ukraine? now, if they are followed by more delivers yes, but the number, so 4 is not sufficient or do swell will be decided. i think my muscles not by things i messes. do you think that these western tanks could actually be the real reason behind the nuclear threat?

no, i think it's more about long ranging or missiles or altogether it's important that the ukraine has her or that ukraine has modern tangs audi phones and long ranging misses. it's about a package. it's about a back, isn't talking about villarille's before you finish. now for belittles, it's quite a critical situation domestically, as well as internationally. no master volleyball show that more than a pupils and off below, against the idea of placing russian nuclear weapons in the letters and internationally. belittles could actually face more sanctions than they would look at shanker risk it because the cash income depends almost totally on put in. and because he controlled his population to a very large extent. so it's hard to say if there would be any protests and also something like a partisanship and so on. i think the possibilities of people who are against they are really limited. so does bella was even get to decide,

or is it was just following russian odors. i think the cache angle, he is known as a person, was a, somehow leveling out something and going here to this site and to the other side. but i think his options are also now very limited, and i would agree that probably better his options are pretty limited and that this is probably a russian decision that russia seem to be or perceives as being in its interest to . but also i, i would like to emphasize again that russia has not yet actually had about nuclear weapons to better or so it really remains to be seen what actually happens on the ground. but some exports also said that it has actually been deployed there. and we're getting the news now. yes or no. is it even tactically, strategically possible to do something like this, which gets unnoticed? i would doubt that, but that really remains to be seen. i can't say no cute reports suggest russia has

around 2000 walking tactical warheads. that is 10 times more than the u. s. it is not clear how many of these will be stationed and bella rules, and then they will be deployed. but buttons announcement has certainly raised an alarm. what do you think is the nuclear risk rising? if you're watching us on youtube, do let us know your thoughts. thanks for watching and good bye. ah with

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