Kissinger Warns of Putin Using Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine
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Kissinger Warns of Putin Using Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine
Henry Kissinger believes Vladimir Putin could deploy nuclear weapons in his war against Ukraine and this is something that “should be a subject of reflection” for the U.S.
“If the Russian strongman does this we can’t just accept it. It would open a new world of blackmail.”
Kissinger, who turns 99 on May 27, made these observations Saturday at the Financial Times Festival in Washington DC during a conversation with FT National Editor Ed Luce.
Having met the Russian president 25 times over the past 15 years, Kissinger said, “I learned his thinking. I thought he was kind of a mystic — with faith in Russian history as he perceived it.”
Admitting that “six months ago I would not have thought he’d start a war of that scale in Europe or anywhere,” Kissinger told a hushed audience the West must ponder “how much will he continue? Or has he reached the limit of his capabilities?”
As to whether Putin will deploy nuclear weapons, Kissinger asked aloud “[w]ill he escalate by moving into the category of weapons that in 70 years have [not been used]? Or will he accept the results [of a Ukrainian victory] without resulting to weapons that could have ended [the war] with different results?”
“We have to think how we react to that,” he said, “We can’t just accept it. It would open the world to a new world of blackmail.”
“Every war since World War II has been fought with conventional weapons,” Kissinger emphasized. But he quickly noted that “Ukraine has put an emphasis on [the possible use of] nuclear weapons. …the high tech countries will have to live with the consequences of their technology.”
He recalled discussions as a scholar on the outbreak of World War I, “which was not intended by any of the countries.” Part of the reason for its high casualties, Kissinger explained, “is that the technology that limited [casualties] as it was, got way ahead. And now, we’re in a new era.”
Use of nuclear weapons, he stressed, “should be a subject of reflection. If the line in nuclear weapons is crossed, it is something of a great consequence….It is not possible to ignore it or pretend it didn’t happen.”
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Even though he's 99 years old, he has the experience of knowing Putin better than most in the west, and I would damn well take him seriously. I said long ago on this site that I thought that in the event that Putin appears to be losing this war, he just might want to go out with a bang rather than a whimper.
I would not put it past Putin to reverse T.S.Eliot in this regard. The threat has already been spoken, and is there anyone here who has an argument as to why Putin would never do it?
"an argument as to why Putin wouldn't do it?"
1. Putin has shot his wad. He miscalculated. Perhaps he misinterpreted the influence and sway of the MAGA in the US.
2. No way the Russian military or the Russian hierarchy would sacrifice their pensions, their friends, their homes, their families or their country for Putin. What would be the point?
3. Navalny is real. The movement is real. If Russia wants a future with a standing on the World stage, the Navalny option is certainly one path to take and to begin that process.
I wonder if T.S.Eliot would have reconsidered that statement had he been living during the age that Man had the means for mass destruction causing the end of life on Earth..
Kissinger stops short of telling us how to handle it. Does he think we should get the Ukrainians to offer up part of their country to Putin as a settlement?
I think he did. He said:
I would have to agree with that. First Ukraine then what? Poland?
Or Moldova followed by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Putin does not deserve to rule. The autocracies must fail.
We can't accept it? Where is his solution? Is nuclear war now on the table?
Buzz,
Of course, Putin is going to throw that out there. We were closer to nuclear war under both JFK and Reagan, by Russian leaders, who were real leaders and it didn't happen.
What Putin might do is flatten Ukraine with conventional weapons rather than let them win. That I do see as a possilbility.
Kissinger. Always interesting to hear one war criminal discuss the options of another war criminal.
I guess you've heard the idiom "It takes one to know one."
No offense, but I'm not taking advice on a nuclear confrontation from a 99 year old, I dont care who it is.
When you reach your later 80s and older, you might reconsider that comment.
I have medical issues. It is unlikely I'll be alive in my late 80s. 99 year olds can say whatever they want. God bless em. Should they influence nuclear policy? Of course not.
What nuclear policy do you think that he was trying to influence?
Stay positive JR and informed on the relevant medical advances. Almost two years ago I was diagnosed with Stage 4 mucinous adenocarcinomas. In 2019, the 5-year overall survival rate with that diagnosis was 48%. My treatment was challenging, but all indications are that now I'm cancer free. I found two great medical teams and I did my part while they did theirs. I assumed that the stats weren't very useful when applied at the individual level and I looked forward.
He was just giving his opinion - doesn't mean he meant to influence policy. You're entitled to ignore him, but I voiced my concern about what he has now opined long ago, and I'm not 99 yet.
last December I had a "widow maker" heart attack and rather substantial heart failure.
Its not going to come all the way back.
I am hopeful but extremely uncertain about the future.
I'm very sorry to hear that. I have a friend that had I think a similar heart attack on his left side 4 years ago. He was one of my coaches as I had my multiple surgeries and recovery. He was fortunate and got to a great hospital relatively quickly and the blockage was soon opened.
You and your heart may be surprisingly resilient and while I don't believe in miracles, I think that one's attitude also plays a role. Hang in there.
Stay with us, John. Maybe others on this site don't feel the way I do, but especially since I'm so far removed from all of you here, although in contact with you every day, I feel that together we are one big family, with our differences of course, but what family does not have its differences.
Thanks.
Thanks.
John & Wry Drinker, hope both of you do well and feel good
Thank you, I'm doing well and getting stronger every month.
Congrats DORW. I'm glad you are cancer free!
Thank you, I had a great medical team and strong, supportive family and friends. It certainly has changed my perspective on US medical care and how it's paid for. Had I been a lower middle income earner in the middle of Oklahoma, I would probably be dead by now.
I saw that too, when a teacher I knew, lost her home to Sloan Kettering bills. It does change ones perspective.
How does that happen to a teacher? Did she work for a parochial school? My mom was a public school teacher. Her pay sucked but her health insurance was solid gold and she gets special benefits even long into retirement...
National Nurses Week is ongoing now. It's a small thing, but last year I sent Edible Arrangements to the two shifts of nurses and techs in the ward that I spent a total of 3 months in over a period of 8 months. This year it was assorted Jersey Mike's Subs. Pizzas went to the Chemo Center that I got my infusions at. They were wonderful professionals combining skills, and empathy while caring for me in this time of COVID. I spent 24 years in the Army and did a combat tour but they are my heroes.
My wife is a teacher in Fairfax County VA. They are offered one of three medical plans, at different price points but all three are very good, the principal differences are the number of providers and costs if going outside the system.
I have heard many horror stories from people who thought they were covered but found out they were not, with private insurance. State and federal employees have good coverage...
Indeed, I’ve had federal coverage since I was 22.
I'm surprised that he felt that he knew you well enough to give you advice. What was it?
Kissinger doesn't explain what Putin would consider a defeat. That shouldn't be difficult since Kissinger is well acquainted with Putin. Notice, too, that Kissinger doesn't tell us what a Ukrainian victory would be, either.
So far it appears that Russian control of Crimea is ensured. And it appears that the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts won't surrender to the Kyiv government. Why would those outcomes be a defeat for Putin?
Putin obviously isn't meeting Kissinger's expectations. That only tells us that Kissinger would topple the Ukrainian government and attempt to build a nation in America's image. Kissinger's nation building goals have never worked.
I ashamed to say that I didn’t give health care much thought. I had always been pretty healthy and through the military, I was removed from any costs. When I did think about it, I thought that our system of private care allowed for innovation and high tech and people just needed to get insurance.
I had state of the art care at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. They are one of about 20 that is experienced in the procedure that I needed and probably one of the top four in the country doing it.
I have paid very little out of pocket and the bills for three surgeries plus chemo and a local oncologist were very large.
I know that I’m very fortunate to have had the quality of care available to me and not to have worried about a financial impact on my family.
I don’t have all the answers on what a replacement system should look like but I see health care now as a basic right in a wealthy country like ours.
JHU is my twin daughters' Alma Mater and they were pre-med there. Indeed you had amazing medical care.
I have lived here and in London and finding the perfect system is a tough deal. In England everyone gets care, but it is doled out. Here some do and some don't.
But I agree with you that health care should be a basic right in a wealthy country like ours, in one form or another.
If Canada can do it, the USA can. However, maybe the Insurance company lobbyists are very effective in the USA.
Good thing I'm so lenient with off-topic comments, as long as they're friendly.
Buzz,
That has always been my policy, too.
Good thing, sorry I forgot and got carried away a bit.
Take note that I didn't stop it, and in fact I welcomed it.
I figure I’m as qualified as anyone else to opine on what I think this lunatic will do, so here goes.
I kind of doubt he will employ nukes only to beat Ukraine. If they get bogged down and frustrated there, the Russians will probably just hang around for 20 years like they did in Afghanistan and eventually give up. Very sad for Ukraine, though.
However, if Putin feels like Russia is under threat from NATO, then yeah, I think he would use nukes.
A good opine. Haha
Some people forget they were in Afghanistan before us. Close to as long as well, I think.
Almost 10 p.m., time to lock up for the night. See you in the morning, if anyone's interested.
Good morning to a few, and good evening to most everyone else. This shop is now open for business.
No comments posted all day, so this article will now hibernate permanently.