Stoltenberg warns nuclear risk persists, urges NATO unity to deter Putin
Jens Stoltenberg says Russia's nuclear threat remains real and stresses NATO's collective resolve must deter any aggression.
Former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told The i Paper that intelligence in autumn 2022 suggested a 10-25% likelihood of Russia employing a tactical nuclear weapon, prompting a firm response from the United States, China and the alliance. He said the threat has not vanished, noting Putin’s recent claim of using “all weapons” to protect Russian territory while denying any threats. Stoltenberg, now Norway’s finance minister, emphasized that NATO must stay united, uphold Article 5 and continue bolstering forces in Eastern Europe to deter possible attacks on the Baltics.
He defended Ukraine’s right to hit targets inside Russia, rejected Donald Trump’s calls for sanctions relief, and warned that hybrid attacks from Russia’s partners heighten European insecurity. The former secretary-general concluded that sustained Western support raises the cost for Moscow enough to push Putin toward negotiations.
Why it matters
It highlights ongoing nuclear danger and the need for NATO cohesion to avoid escalation in the Ukraine conflict.
How this story developed
- Sep 25 NATO says it has prepared response options to Russian cyber and hybrid threats
- Oct 15 Zelensky publicly condemned the diesel sanction relief in a televised interview.
- Oct 15 Ukraine has depleted its stock of Patriot interceptor missiles, so almost all Russian ballistic missiles in the latest attack went uncaught.
- Oct 16 Ukraine’s parliament passed a law guaranteeing mother‑tongue education for minorities.
- Oct 17 The council adopted conclusions to keep budget negotiations ongoing after the summit.
- Oct 17 Romanian Air Force pilots flying F-16s intercepted and destroyed two unmanned aircraft that entered Romania's airspace above the Black Sea.
- Oct 18 Ukrainian drones launched a large-scale attack on St. Petersburg early on Oct. 18, triggering multiple explosions and fires across the city.
- Oct 18 The Latvian military has declared an orange warning for three municipalities along the southern border with Lithuania, citing a confirmed threat to the country's airspace.
- Oct 18 Ukraine’s Patriot interceptor stockpile has been reported as exhausted amid the recent Russian missile barrage.
- Oct 18 Zelensky highlighted that cooperation with Ukraine provides real‑world testing for French defence products.
- Oct 18 Authorities confirmed one fatality and five injuries resulting from the St. Petersburg raid.
- Oct 19 Lithuania issued a red air warning and urged shelter use while Latvia withdrew its orange alert.
- Oct 20 Trump signed a waiver temporarily lifting most sanctions on Russia.
- Oct 21 The United States has begun P‑8 Poseidon patrols over the Black Sea at Bulgaria's request.
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