Zelensky calls for ‘pre-emptive’ strike against Russia in speech to Lowy Institute

Ukraine’s leader has sparked a furious response from Russia, which branded him a “monster” over comments made to an Australian crowd on Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking to Australia's Lowy Institute via video link on October 6, 2022. Source: YouTube

Volodymyr Zelensky’s office has clarified that he was not calling for a “pre-emptive” nuclear strike on Russia, after a speech by the Ukrainian President to an Australian audience on Thursday night sparked a furious response from the Kremlin.

Mr Zelensky was speaking via video link to the Lowy Institute when he made the comments in response to a question from the think tank’s executive director Michael Fullilove.

“Mr President, in your remarks you mentioned nuclear blackmail,” the host said.

“Mr Putin told us the other day that he’s not bluffing. So may I ask you, do you believe that the likelihood of the use of Russian nuclear weapons against Ukraine has risen, and what more do you want NATO to do to deter Russia from using nuclear weapons?”

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Volodymyr Zelensky speaking to the Lowy Institute. Source: YouTube

Mr Zelensky replied that NATO should “eliminate the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons”.

“But what is important, I once again appeal to the international community, as I did before February 24 – we need pre-emptive strikes, so that they’ll know what will happen to them if they use nukes, and not the other way around,” he said.

“Don’t wait for Russia’s nuclear strikes, and then say, ‘Oh, since you did this, take that from us!’ Reconsider the way you apply pressure. This is what NATO should do – reconsider the order in which it applies pressure [on Russia].”

In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Zelensky’s comments “are nothing but a call to start a world war” which would lead to “unforeseeable disastrous consequences”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Picture: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP

Russian’s Foreign Ministry also accused Mr Zelensky of trying to provoke a nuclear war, with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stating that “every person on the planet” should recognise that the “unbalanced” Ukrainian leader had turned into “a monster, whose hands can destroy the planet”, reported state-run news outlet RT.

Mr Zelensky’s office later issued a statement clarifying that he “did not call on NATO countries to pre-emptively use nuclear weapons against the Russian Federation — he spoke about the period before the start of a full-scale invasion”.

“Colleagues, you have gone a little far with your nuclear hysteria and now you hear nuclear strikes even where there are none,” press secretary Serhiy Nikiforov wrote on Facebook.

“The President spoke about the period until February 24. Then it was necessary to take preventive measures to prevent Russia from starting a war. Let me remind you that the only measures discussed at that time were preventive sanctions.”

A Russian Sarmat ICBM test launch. Picture: Russian Defence Ministry/AFP

Mr Nikiforov “also noted that only the terrorist state Russia can afford to blackmail the world with explosions at the [Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant] and hint at the use of nuclear weapons, and Ukraine will never make such calls”, the press office statement said.

“As you know, the USA has warned of a ‘catastrophic’ response to any use of nuclear weapons by the Russian Federation,” it said.

“In the case of mutual use, it is unlikely to be able to stop this process later. We will remind you that on September 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again resorted to nuclear blackmail in his address. Meanwhile, the US administration, together with its partners, is discussing a response plan in the event of the use of nuclear weapons by the Russian Federation.”

Fears of a major escalation involving nuclear weapons have soared since Moscow’s annexation of four occupied regions of Ukraine, with Mr Putin formally signing the move into law Wednesday.

Ukrainian troops near Lyman, Donetsk region on October 4, 2022. Picture: Anatolii Stepanov/AFP

The Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions are “accepted into the Russian Federation in accordance with the constitution of the Russian Federation”, the documents said.

To annex the territories, some sort of treaty will need to be struck and ratified by the Russian parliament, which is controlled by Putin allies. The areas will then be seen as part of Russia and its nuclear umbrella will extend to them.

Mr Putin has warned he could use nuclear weapons to protect Russian territory from attack.

Russia has been rattling its nuclear sabre in the wake of the annexation referendums last week — condemned by the West as “sham” votes — as its forces continue to be pushed back by Ukraine.

Mr Putin’s biggest submarine, Belgorod, which can be armed with “apocalypse” nuclear torpedoes, is on the move, and there have been reports a convoy linked to a nuclear unit is in transit in Russia.

NATO is reported to have warned its members about the possibility that Mr Putin could be preparing for a nuclear escalation.

— with AFP