Russia need “preemptive strikes” so that they will know exactly “what awaits them if they use nuclear weapons,” it must not be “the other way around,” the Ukrainian President has said.

The US has warned the Kremlin that even if Russian uses “tactical nuclear weapons” this will lead to the destruction of Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that “NATO should make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons.”

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Speaking via video link at Australia’s think tank, the Lowy Institute, he said, “Preemptive strikes are needed so that they know what awaits them if they use nuclear weapons. Not the other way around, waiting for Russia’s nuclear strikes and then saying, ‘oh, you’ve done that, then get this.”

NATO, Zelensky said, “should reconsider how it uses its pressure.”

The Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that the US has also sent harsh signals to the Kremlin.

If Russia were to use tactical nuclear weapons then this will lead to the opening of the last destructive direction against the Russian Federation,

Reznikov said, “If we evaluate this risk [of the use of nuclear weapons by the Russian Federation] as a percentage, it is much less than anything.

“And this is confirmed, among other things, by our partners, both the United States and Great Britain.

“Moreover, we received clear signals from our partners, the White House at the highest level, that they also held certain consultations and sent fairly clear, fairly tough signals to the Kremlin that their use of even tactical nuclear weapons would lead to the opening of the last destructive direction in relation to Russia, and there would be no chance for Russia to return to the club of countries, with which at least someone shakes hands, and there would be corresponding harsh reactions.”

Reznikov said at a Forbes press conference “Without rose-colored glasses. Business and state during war” on Thursday morning.