On Saturday, a Russian lawmaker, Aleksey Zhuravlev, proposed the idea of placing nuclear weapons in “friendly countries” in close proximity to the United States. Zhuravlev, a senior member of Russia’s parliament (Duma), made this suggestion in response to reported plans by the United States to deploy some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Europe.
According to a Friday report from the London Telegraph, Pentagon documents indicated the U.S. was considering stationing nuclear weapons in the U.K. as a response to perceived threats from Russia. Newsweek sought verification of the Telegraph report from the Pentagon but had not received a response as of Monday night.
In September, the Russian foreign ministry had warned the U.S. that placing nuclear weapons in the U.K. could be viewed as an escalation, potentially prompting “countermeasures” from Russia.
Russian Legislator Advocates Bringing Nuclear Weapons in Proximity to the United States (Credits: Arms Control Association)
Zhuravlev, in a Telegram post, pointed out that the U.K. already possesses its own nuclear weapons, and the U.S. has deployed nuclear arms in other European countries. He expressed skepticism about the impact of additional nuclear weapons in the U.K. and urged the Kremlin to consider placing them in “friendly countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.”
Zhuravlev, the first deputy chairman of the Russian parliamentary defense committee, emphasized the rapid advancement of weapons systems, stating that Russian hypersonic missiles could reach the United States faster than subsonic ones from the American underbelly. He also highlighted the unpredictable locations of Russian submarines worldwide and the strategic capabilities of Russian aviation.
Known for making provocative statements, Zhuravlev has a history of such instances during appearances on Russian state television. In January 2023, he suggested attacking Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, during her visit to Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
A few months later in May, Zhuravlev stated that Russia would require an army of at least 3 million soldiers to defeat Ukraine, emphasizing the challenges posed by the mobilization efforts of the Ukrainians.
