Top Russian Official Reiterates Nuclear Threat, Says Ukraine Joining NATO Means War

The head of NATO has been dismissive of such remarks, calling them ’reckless and dangerous’

Former Russian President and current Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev speaks to the Russian media at the Gorki state residence outside Moscow on March 23, 2023. Ekaterina Shtukina/Sputnik Pool Photo via AP

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told Russian media that Ukraine’s accession to NATO would be tantamount to a declaration of war and that the Kremlin is prepared to use its vast nuclear arsenal if pushed too far.

“From the very beginning, we have made it clear to NATO that Ukraine’s accession is not just a direct threat to Russia’s national interests. It is, in fact, a declaration of war, albeit with a delay,” Mr. Medvedev told the news outlet Argumenty i Fakty in an exclusive interview published on July 17, according to a translation of his remarks.