<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1663047365636,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000162-07c3-d172-a563-4febcc790000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1663047365636,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000162-07c3-d172-a563-4febcc790000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_63047357", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1096045"} }); ","_id":"00000183-3558-d39e-a1bf-b7f9e9d50000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video Embed
Former national security adviser John Bolton said on Monday that Russia “is a lot closer” to using nuclear weapons in Ukraine than at any point since its Feb. 24 invasion.
Bolton’s claim comes after a recent success by Ukrainian forces to push Russian troops out of formerly occupied territory in northern Ukraine, but the former White House adviser argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be more inclined to use nuclear weapons to strengthen his position at home than to change the dynamics on the battlefield.
“Where we are now after this Ukraine success in the north is not that point,” Bolton said on WABC radio show “Cats at Night” when asked about the prospect of Putin using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
“But it is a lot closer to it than we’ve been before,” he added.
MORE THAN 30 RUSSIAN OFFICIALS RISK RETALIATION CALLING FOR PUTIN’S RESIGNATION
The former ambassador to the United Nations explained that the recent setback Putin’s army has faced in Ukraine leaves him weaker domestically than at any point since the start of the war, and that weakness leaves him vulnerable.
“Just when you think the Russian military can’t perform any worse they surprise you and they perform worse,” he said, adding, “The potential risk of the use of a nuclear weapon is not so much to change the battlefield but to strengthen Putin’s position at home.”
Bolton added that he believes the only circumstance under which Russia may resort to using nuclear weapons would be if Russian troops begin to flee back across the Russian border and Ukrainian troops follow across the border into Russian territory.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Bolton said that there is “no chance” Putin would agree to a ceasefire while his troops are retreating.
Domestically, the Russian president is facing unprecedented criticism from some government officials over the invasion of Ukraine. More than 30 Russian city officials risked prison sentences on Monday to call for Putin’s resignation.
