Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called for NATO to launch a “preventative strike” on Russia to prevent Moscow from using nuclear weapons, a move that would almost certainly spark World War III and possibly nuclear war.
“What should NATO do? Exclude the possibility of use of nuclear weapons by Russia,” Zelensky said via video link at an event hosted by the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank.
“But the most important, I’m again addressing the international community, is how it was before February 24: preventative strikes, so that they know what will happen if they use [a nuke],” he said. “And not the opposite, waiting for Russia to strike and then saying ‘oh, that’s how you are, now you can take it from us.’ Reconsider how you apply pressure, the order of application.”
The Kremlin jumped on the comments and said that Zelensky was trying to spark a world war. Ukrainian officials tried to downplay what Zelensky said, with his advisor Mykhailo Podolyak insisting that Zelensky “said nothing about a preventive nuclear strike” on Russia.
Serhii Nikiforov, Zelensky’s press secretary, also said that the Ukrainian leader was not calling for a nuclear strike and claimed he was talking about other actions, such as sanctions. “The president was speaking about the period before February 24. Preventative measures should have been used at that time to prevent Russia from unleashing a war. I will remind you that the only measures discussed at that time were preventative sanctions,” he said.
But Zelensky has previously called for direct US and NATO military intervention in the conflict. Earlier in the war, Zelensky pushed hard for the Western powers to impose a “no-fly zone” over Ukraine, which would have required shooting down Russian warplanes and bombing surface-to-air missile systems inside Russia.
Volodymyr sure is generous with the lives of the US and the rest of NATO.
We have given him the power to behave irresponsibely. His formula for counteroffensive and regaining 1,000 sq km of 259,000 sq km lost — has bern accomplished by a frenendous loss of life.
Now he is calling in the deal we made with the devil.
Biden is itchung to start a war. The only way to
cover up the consequences of disasterous foreign policy , trade and financial system decisions. UK is living on an edge after the massive buyout of guilds. Crash averted by a whisker.
It is not Russia that is hurting. Russia is not doing much because some negotiations must be going on. Zelenski may not like it. Buden may not like it. May be cooler heads will prevail.
“We have given him the power to behave irresponsibly.”
Yes – arguably, that is his function:
US neocons could not personally scream at and berate Congress with hysterical and suicidal demands to ‘close the skies’…
…but Z can get away with it because, ‘You know, his country is under unprovoked attack, so he has reason to be upset.’
Well you can ask
Zelensky can say nothing without permission of those who are sponsoring Kiev regime. Biden administration and NATO need the war mongering hysteria for distracting people from the awful economic situation.
“Zelensky can say nothing without permission of those who are sponsoring Kiev regime.”
I go back and forth on that one:
I tend to think Z’s like a ‘bad cop’ or a bad dog: a neocon proxy whose ‘badness’ serves the “warmongering hysteria” function you say – but that sometimes goes too far.
For example, as Caitlin Johnstone argued recently:
“The Zelensky government responded to [Russia’s annexations] by applying to join NATO, only to be immediately shut down by U.S. and NATO officials. Can’t have sacrificial pawns trying to rise above their station on the grand chessboard, after all.”
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/10/02/caitlin-johnstone-unprovoked-war-fable-blocks-peace/
NATO is losing and Zelensky is in panic. The Ukraine is gone, scorched earth is all that will be left.
” The Ukraine is gone, scorched earth is all that will be left.”
“Scorched earth”…or ‘a scorched earth’?
A scorched earth is a possibility considering the kind of leadership we have.
Sacrificial pawn is a good description of modern Ukraine.
They could not become a NATO member because they were in conflict with Russia before the regime change, 2008 Bush started it, and even more so after 2014. He expected NATO to get Crimea back NATO WOULD GO TO WAR against Russia FOR A NONE MEMBER?
They tossed Minsk I and II with American support.
“They tossed Minsk I and II with American support.”
1/ I view the US as more culpable.
As you likely know, Z. was elected on a peace platform, w/major eastern-Russian-speaking support – pledging to enforce Minsk. IMO, Z did not simply blow off that electoral pledge, but could not enforce it due to a) U’s domestic right, and b) the US’s failure/refusal to support his pledge via public statements and economic/financial carrots.
Instead, the US/NATO fed the most militaristic, nationalistic elements via military aid – that fed the Donbas fighting – and NATO carrots like joining NATO military exercises and pre-NATO status upgrades.
I think you are right, IMO I think that the neo-Nazis and USA together used Zelensky, no telling if he knew or was just naïve.
And the idiotic Europeans double down on more sanctions, can it get any crazier than that?
Yes, it can be even crazier. After successful destruction of Nord Stream, they can now try a dirty nukes and blame Russia.
I am afraid, you could be right.
I don’t know why everyone thinks that our war making is somehow meant as a distraction. As if we don’t do wars when the economy is booming. The distraction part is just icing on the cake.
Losing wars don’t win elections, even if they can keep it going until Nov. 8. They get the bill before the election. OPEC has the aces, it is Biden’s war, he could have avoided it.
It wasn’t Biden who organized the far-right coup in Kiev in 2014.
He was involved in it and managed it, it is how Hunter got a good paying job.
Biden was well informed, he can’t say he did not know
Obama was president then, it’s on him if anyone. He can’t say he did not know.
Usually, they started the wars when the economy was on the rise. However, there is a difference between the current war mongering and the wars of 20th century. Now, a big war can be too destructive. No one will profit.
Zelenski is mad, as he is taking orders from Biden. That is a death wish.
Buden wanted to weaken Russia economically, defeat it militarily. Instead he crashed European economies, and US economy, after it canibalizes Europe and Japan will head into cratering of insurers and oensiin funds. Energy producers were responsible, cutting production abead kf recession to prevent oil tankers floating in iceabs with no buyers. Biden is not grasping the deadly mix of inflation and recession.
Nothing will be solved by ratcheting up tensions.
Zelenski is at this point certifiably unhinged. His drugs priblems getting worse, perhaps. Perhaos it is just his personality problem. Somd people cannot handle having power. With unflinching. Support frim US and suicidal Europe, he thinks he can order some nukes — like a Domino Pizza.
Well Ukraine has been given almost everything by Biden and the EU so why not now ask for a nuclear strike on Russia? Maybe he will get his Pizza – hope he can digest it.
He is not a HERO – He is a MADMAN who cares S–T about his country.
Today agree with you, Bianca.
Zelensky is unhinged because the pieces are flying around his ears.
It will be interesting to watch Biden and crew falling apart, the neocons blew it again, big time. The Saudis and Russians are in payback mode.
The world hates western values and the USA and NATO.
UNHINGED, you beat me to it.
This man should go to jail
But for the fact that the identical theme is being echoed in Washington, it might be just “Bibi-style stridency”.
Probably it signals a high level of desperation, … and, given the anathema on diplomacy (Kennedy style finesse ruled out),
another major escalation.
Phuck this guy.
Shoot, what could go wrong? 😀
Alexander Mercouris has pointed out that Russia has been moving slowly because Putin wanted to be sure the rest of the world was on his side. Zelensky, by making insane pronouncements like this, plays right into Putin’s hands. The rest of the world – outside the West – knows what is going on and who is at fault for this war. They are not fooled by the Western media spin.
“moving slowly because Putin wanted to be sure the rest of the world was on his side” – that is good observation. The economic war is more dangerous for Russia than what is going on in Ukraine.
Zelensky can say what he wants; it won’t cause NATO countries to stop supporting Ukraine.
Zelensky may be MADMAN but as the yanks say he is our MADMAN
Zelensky is not a particular stupid man, but he is terribly corrupted and sniffing the wrong stuff.
Dear Dave,
Regarding the Ukrainian President’s clear call for a direct NATO military attack on Russia – “preventative strikes” against it – you note Zelensky’s previous calls for direct NATO military action against Russia:
“Zelensky has previously called for direct US and NATO military intervention in the conflict. Earlier in the war, Zelensky pushed hard for the Western powers to impose a ‘no-fly zone'”
It is worth adding that – besides demanding the US suicidally ‘close the skies’ – the Ukrainian President has repeatedly demanded equivalent NATO military action, and, more recently, again, NATO membership.
Here, demands for the equivalent of NATO membership:
“Speaking at NATO’s summit in Madrid Wednesday morning, Zelensky said Ukraine needs ‘security guarantees’ and that NATO needs ‘to find a place for Ukraine in the common security space.'”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/06/29/has-ukraine-not-paid-enough-zelensky-urges-nato-for-security-guarantees
And, as reported recently, after accepting it would not belong to NATO, Ukraine is once more pressing for fast-track membership – membership that would basically guarantee Article 5 protection triggering WWIII.
Upshot: from the start, Ukraine has been making world-suicidal demands. Playing to its citizenry? Bargaining chip for limitless, endless western military aid?
Doesn’t matter – Ukraine is the US’s bad dog whose unleashed hysterics threatens not Russia but the planet.
But senile Biden is blowing in the same horn. Biden had it in his hand to avoid this war, all Russians wanted was a secure border in return for a neutral prosperous Ukraine. Minsk II would have made it possible. But Biden wanted regime change and a broken Russia and control of Russian natural resources. They tossed the valid Minsk II agreement and now we have the disaster.
NATO is cracking up and so is the EU, Biden stabbed Germany, a NATO and EU member, in the back. Sanctions against EU members are killing the economies. They have nothing to gain and everything to lose.
Americans treat allies like enemies, they are not likely to help to attack Russia. The US is isolated with maybe the UK, Australia, and Canada, and Ukraine, maybe.
How stupid the whole Biden crew is is mindboggling. All failed neocons.
Look at the Zelensky clip from Australian news, he is unhinged and is pushing the panic button, he knows the truth, they are losing. An embecile very rich clown is all he is.
Winners don’t unhinge like that, add the imbecile NATO governments, it does not look good for Biden and the neocons, the biggest disaster
The USA blowup of the pipelines looks like the turning point, NATO annihilated itself, the stupidity to sanction each other, blow up the pipeline to annihilate Germany and the EU, the allies, is the height of stupidity.
Smart Biden and crew, annihilate your allies when you would need them most. When did that ever happen before in history?
“Ukrainian officials tried to downplay what Zelensky said”
Sounds familiar. But he can’t even use senility as an excuse.
and he isn’t even that old – like old senile Biden.
You have to admit, seeing that clip of him, you know he lost it completely, we now can imagine what goes on behind the curtain. They are in panic by now, so much stupidity on one pile, the pipeline does the rest now.
But we all will have to pay for the war criminals in Washington D.C. They sabotaged the global economies, the working middle class at home and abroad. There is no winner and the losses are getting bigger.
How about imbecile Zelensky?
THIS MAN MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN POWER!
Biden must go, we need a regime change, imbecile Zelensky takes orders from senile Biden.
Warmongers are evil no matter whose side they claim to be on. If this is Zelensky’s pose, then, he is hardly on Our side. Looking for Big Daddy to protect him. Look– you seem to be doing well enough with all the help we already threw at you. Stop asking us to burn down the entire world for your sake, OK, pardner?
To be honest, the USA pushed Ukraine in the swamp they are now drowning in. They were promised the moon if they would provoke Russia, NATO will support Ukraine, NATO can beat Russia.
Americans don’t keep their word, neo-Nazi Ukrainians are learning the hard way.
He wants to take everyone down with him, like the Nazi leadership did.
If the end game is about who blinks first, rest assured, everyone will go blind.
Russia’s stand remains clear and will NOT be the cause of Armagedden. sorry, Ze.
The real “bomb” which potentially threatens us is the approximately 3 trillion $$ of our government bonds held by Asian countries. Japan: 1.23 trillion. China: about 1 trillion. Also the national debt has risen above 31 trillion $$.
The time may be near when more spending on Ukraine by Biden will become irresponsible to choose the least.
I think that horse has left the barn, Dieter, and it’s gone like a freight train.
Matt Bracken:
Chimps on LSD running a Nitroglycerine factory and we are chained to the walls..
Will someone please take the spoon and needle from him!
A strike on Moscow would mean no NFL on that Sunday, because all the lights would be our in America.
Well, I’m in luck then — the Chiefs don’t play until Monday 😉
And the Packers are playing right now in London. So hopefully they won’t do the UK until after the game.
Fourth quarter, and the most overrated team in the NFL is stuck in a 20-20 tie with the Giants.
So, now you’re making me hope the Chiefs, also overrated, lose tonight. But I don’t disagree with your assessment. I can’t wait until Rogers is gone.
Ngô Đình Diệm?
The Global Cult’s waterboy is playing a dangerous game for all us. Yet we hear that Putin is the primary driver of escalation.
Hmmm, that picture makes z look like an alcoholic Tony Randall … (sorry Tony)
Zelensky was never qualified for a leadership role. He’s a TV actor, not a politician, and as far as statesman goes, he really sucks at that part. My dislike for this idiot grows by the day, as it does for Blinken and Biden, the non-compos mentis twins.
Since this article doesn’t link to the actual video, or indicate that Zelenskyy isn’t just giving an address but is responding to questions, here’s the entire thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9plcAPFQrHY
Around 20:31, Zelenskyy is asked, “Do you believe that the likelihood of the use of Russian nuclear weapons against Ukraine has risen and what more do you want NATO to do to deter Russia from using nuclear weapons?”
The part of his response quoted here starts around 25:22. “What NATO has to do to prevent and deter the use of nuclear weapons with Russia, what’s important, and I have to underline once again my expectations to the international community, preventive strikes — preventive actions — so that Russia knew what would happen to them and not in return, I mean waiting for the nuclear strikes first and then say what’s going to happen to them.” (Note that the translator corrected himself to translate to “actions” instead of “strikes.”)
The actual word he used was “удар”, which can be translated not just as “strike” but as “hit,” “blow,” “impact” or “shock.”