A Russian chief on Saturday listed a number of justifications for the nation to make use of nuclear weapons because the battle in Ukraine continues into its fifth week.

Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, who now serves as deputy chairman of the nation's safety council, outlined 4 ways in which Russia could possibly be "entitled to" use its nuclear arsenal—even towards a nation that's solely utilizing typical weapons.

"Primary is the scenario, when Russia is struck by a nuclear missile. The second case is any use of different nuclear weapons towards Russia or its allies," Medvedev mentioned Saturday, based on The Guardian. "The third is an assault on a crucial infrastructure that can have paralyzed our nuclear deterrent forces. And the fourth case is when an act of aggression is dedicated towards Russia and its allies, which jeopardized the existence of the nation itself, even with out the usage of nuclear weapons, that's, with the usage of typical weapons."

He then added that there needs to be no purpose to doubt that Russia can be "prepared to present a worthy response to any infringement on our nation, or on its independence." In the meantime, on Friday, Russian Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu mentioned that sustaining "readiness of strategic nuclear forces" stays a precedence for Moscow, The Guardian reported.

The statements prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to warn on Saturday that Russia poses a direct menace to the world.

"Russia is deliberating bragging they'll destroy with nuclear weapons, not solely a sure nation, however the whole planet," he mentioned throughout a video convention at Qatar's Doha Discussion board.

Russia nuclear weapons
A Russian chief on Saturday gave a number of justifications for Moscow to make use of nuclear weapons because the battle in Ukraine continues. Above, a person walks in entrance of a destroyed constructing after a Russian missile assault within the city of Vasylkiv, close to Kyiv, on February 27.DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Photos

Days earlier, Russian press secretary Dmitry Peskov mentioned the nation would think about using nuclear forces if it deems the continued battle to be an "existential menace." The feedback got here shortly after the nation claimed that it had used hypersonic missiles towards Ukrainian forces for the primary time, which many specialists thought-about to be an escalation of battle.

The White Home this week responded to Russia's rising threats by assembling a crew of nationwide safety officers to map out how the U.S. would react if Moscow makes use of its stockpile of chemical, organic or nuclear weapons. The group, which has been dubbed the Tiger Crew, can also be discussing situations by which Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to increase the battle into neighboring NATO nations, the New York Occasions reported.

Different world leaders have expressed concern that Russia is contemplating the usage of nuclear weapons, together with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who mentioned Saturday that the prospect is "more and more actual," Reuters reported. Japan is the one nation that has ever been attacked by nuclear weapons.

Since Russia first started its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the United Nations has reported that greater than 1,000 civilians have been killed, whereas over 1,600 have been wounded. Nevertheless, the U.N. estimates that the precise loss of life toll is considerably increased.

Newsweek contacted Russia's International Ministry for added remark, however didn't hear again in time for publication.