Russia would use nuclear weapons if it feels threatened, a Kremlin official mentioned Tuesday.

Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov was requested on CNN whether or not the thought of nuclear warfare was nonetheless on the desk throughout the battle with Ukraine. Peskov mentioned that solely an "existential" menace can be sufficient to justify using nuclear warfare.

"Properly, now we have an idea of home safety, and it is public," Peskov mentioned. "You possibly can learn all the explanations for nuclear arms for use. So whether it is an existential menace, a menace for our nation, then it may be utilized in accordance with our idea."

Peskov's assertion got here shortly after Russia claimed that it had used hypersonic missiles for the primary time in fight in opposition to Ukrainian forces. Whereas it couldn't be independently confirmed, Russian Protection Ministry spokesman Main Common Igor Konashenkov mentioned Kinzhal hypersonic missiles had been used, a transfer that would sign an escalation within the battle.

"The Kinzhal aviation missile system with hypersonic aeroballistic missiles destroyed a big underground warehouse of missiles and aviation ammunition of Ukrainian troops within the village of Delyatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk area," Konashenkov mentioned, in line with the Russian state-owned RIA information company.

Whereas the potential use of hypersonic and nuclear missiles may spark concern of worldwide escalation, there's a probability that a cease-fire can nonetheless occur quickly. In response to United Nations Secretary-Common António Guterres, there are sufficient options on the negotiation desk that Russia and Ukraine may conform to. If that's the case, a cease-fire may very well be referred to as.

"There may be sufficient on the desk to stop hostilities now," he mentioned throughout a press briefing on Tuesday, "and severely negotiate now."

However he additionally mentioned that it was greater than doubtless that the battle will solely worsen earlier than it will get higher. Due to that, there may very well be extra escalations, such because the official introduction of hypersonic and even nuclear missiles, earlier than a compromise is reached.

"Even when Mariupol falls, Ukraine can't be conquered metropolis by metropolis, road by road, home by home," Guterres mentioned. "This battle is unwinnable. In the end, it should transfer from the battlefield to the peace desk."

Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Division of Protection for remark however didn't obtained a responses in time for publication.

Replace 3/22/22, 4:05 p.m. ET: This story has been up to date with extra data.

Destroyed Building
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov mentioned that nuclear warfare can be utilized by Russia provided that it senses an "existential menace." Above, a person walks in entrance of a destroyed constructing after a Russian non-nuclear missile assault within the city of Vasylkiv, close to Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 27, 2022.Photograph by Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP through Getty Pictures