Ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev claims nuclear apocalypse is 'quite probable'

Former President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev who is known for his nuclear sabre-rattling made some gloomy predictions in his latest article in Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

The politician who replaced Vladimir Putinbetween 2008 and 2012 warned that amid the worst tensions Russia and the West have seen since WWII, the nuclear apocalypse ‘is not only possible but also quite probable’.

Medvedev also explained why the war in Ukraine is there to stay and what Russia’s goal behind its full-scale invasion of its neighbour actually is.

Here is what he said.

Medvedev: The likelihood of Russia using nuclear weapons is growing

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s President between 2008 and 2012 and a now-deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, authored an opinion article in the Kremlin-controlled Rossiyskaya Gazeta, and what he wrote may sadly reflect his government’s official position.

According to a once-top politician, the current tensions between Russia and the West are ‘much worse’ than during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, which has often been cited as perhaps the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a nuclear conflict before cooler heads prevailed.

Medvedev blamed the West for fuelling the confrontation in a bid to ‘defeat’ his country and warned that while the nuclear war was unlikely to have any winners, it might not be avoidable.

He wrote:

One thing that politicians of all stripes do not like to admit: such an Apocalypse is not only possible but also quite probable.

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The ‘existential’ war in Ukraine is there to stay, Medvedev warns

Dmitry Medvedev is often accused of nuclear sabre-rattling, with him allegedly writing ‘angry rants’ about the ‘rotten West’ following excessive alcohol consumption.

In April, Medvedev warned that Moscow may turn to the use of nukes should Russia be defeated in Ukraine.

He posted on Telegram, saying:

Defeat of a nuclear power in a conventional war may trigger a nuclear war. Nuclear powers have never lost major conflicts on which their fate depends.

In his latest article in Rossiyskaya Gazeta Medvedev also predicted that the confrontation between Russia and the West will ‘last decades’.

He cited a third world war as a possibility but admitted that it would be ‘obviously bad’ even for his country as ‘the victors are not at all guaranteed further prosperity.’

The former President also shared his opinion about the goal behind his country’s invasion of Ukraine.

He wrote:

Our goal is simple—to eliminate the threat of Ukraine's membership in NATO. And we will achieve it. One way or another.

Medvedev added that Russia and the West must continue to negotiate in order to prevent an escalation, but that the current Kyiv government ‘must be annihilated’ and ‘legislatively banned in civilised Europe as a fascist.’

He also predicted that the Ukraine war could become ‘permanent because this is a question of the existence of Russia’ as NATO rules prevent inviting new countries into membership when they are involved in territorial conflicts.

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Sources used:

- Newsweek: 'Ex-Russian President Calls Nuclear Apocalypse 'Probable''