Russian President Putins Stone cold nuclear warning to Ukraine and
the West.
Putin signs the modified Russian nuclear doctrine.
Ukraine and NATO put on notice by Russia after Biden
nod for Ukraine to use long range missiles.
Putans direct nuke there to Biden.
Is the world staring at a nuclear escalation?
That's our top focus on India.
First, the new Russian doctrine very clearly states any attack
by a non nuclear power supported by a nuclear power
would be considered a joint attack and that any attack
by 1 member of a military bloc would be considered
an attack by the entire alliance.
This is Russian President Vladimir Putins stone cold warning to
the Ukraine and to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization members
in writing barely 48 hours after reports emerged that the
outgoing U.S.
President Joe Biden had given a nod for Ukraine to
use longer range missiles to target deeper inside Russia.
Incidentally, reports just emerging from Moscow indicate that Ukraine has
fired the US made at the camp missiles or the
longer range missiles.
And the big question were asking here on India Today,
has President Biden crossed President Putins red lines?
I get you details.
I am Gaurav Savant as always, Let's get started with
the headlines.
Cash for vote scandal rocks Maharashtra hours before polling BJP
leader book ₹9,00,000 cash fees so far.
Vinod Tawre claims conspiracy.
Rahul Gandhi hurls the safe jibe at Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
Burkha controversy in Uttar Pradesh ahead of by elections.
Samajwadi Party asks the Election Commission not to check identity
cards or faces of burka clad Women Voters.
BJP says this is vote jihad.
Air emergency in the national capital.
Air quality levels hit 500 across the national capital.
AAM Aadmi Party seeks centers intervention for cloud seeding.
Fresh twist to the Tirupati prasadam controversy.
The Tirumala temple board chief orders non Hindu staff to
seek voluntary retirement or be transferred.
Another thaw in India.
China ties External Affairs Minister Doctor Jay Shankar holds a
bilateral with China counterpart talks on resuming direct flights, restarting
the Karash Mansarovar Yatra.
Is there now clear and present danger of the Russia
Ukraine conflict escalating into the Third World War?
Barely 48 hours after reports from US indicated that President
Joe Biden had given the nod for Ukraine to use
the longer range US tactical missiles deeper inside Russia, President
Putin has signed a decree lowering the threshold authorizing the
use of nuclear weapons in the conflict to target either
Ukraine or nuclear weapon states supporting it.
Many are asking, is this an empty threat?
Can the world afford to treat this as an empty
threat?
Or is the world on the threshold of a significant
escalation of the Russia Ukraine conflict amid reports that are
just emerging from Russia that the US made tactical missiles
have been used by Ukraine?
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the decree specifying the
new threshold for Moscow to use nuclear weapons even in
case of a conventional attack on Russia.
This after reports of U.S.
President Joe Biden finally giving a nod to Ukrainian President
Gulodomir Szalinski to use longer range missiles to target deeper
inside Russia.
The Ukrainian forces now have the US node to use
U.S.
Army tactical missiles to target close to 300 kilometers inside
Russia.
Ukraine so far had the NATO Storm Shadow and SCALP
missiles with a range of approximately 150 to 180 kilometers.
We plan real measures in order to stabilize the front
lines necessary operations by armed forces in the temporarily occupied
territories, as well as in Russia, aimed at military infrastructure.
We plan measures for substantial increase of armies technological capabilities.
Under the new decree, Russian forces have been authorized to
use nuclear weapons even if there's a significant damage caused
by conventional missiles, drones or even enemy aircraft inside Russia
aided by a nuclear armed nation.
The updated nuclear doctrine establishes the new framework where the
Russian President Putin could authorize a nuclear strike.
Russia urged the West to study the new decree carefully
in Russia has always been a very responsible country in
order to exclude such a threat of using of nuclear
arms and to contribute to contributing global peace and stability.
So, nuclear deterrence.
Nuclear deterrence is aimed at ensuring the understanding by potential
enemy of Russia of inevitability of nuclear answer should they
try to make an aggression against Russia.
Russia had modified its nuclear doctrine even in 2020, whereby
the President was authorized to order the use of nuclear
weapons in case of a nuclear attack by an enemy
or a conventional attack that threatened Russias existence.
Ukraine has been alarmed by reports that Russia was putting
together a combat force of close to 50,000 personnel, including
more than 10,000 from North Korea to mountain operation to
retake the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces.
President Zelinsky of Ukraine shot American NOD for use of
longer range missiles to target Russian forces trying to retake
Kursk as the region is a big bargaining chip in
Ukraines hands for subsequent peace talks and possible territory exchange
during negotiations, Bureau report India Today.
And news coming in, there are reports of massive escalation
in the Russia Ukraine conflict.
Ukraine has targeted a major Russian ammunition depot in the
Bryansk region.
Ukraine, according to reports that are just emerging, has fired
six US made at the camps or these long range
tactical missiles inside Russia.
Russia according to reports that are just emerging, Russia is
saying five US made missiles have been intercepted and destroyed
mid air.
One missile was partially damaged.
There are reports that seem to indicate that there has
also been some damage on ground.
The US made missiles were fired barely 48 hours after
U.S.
President Joe Biden gave a nod for the use of
these longer range missiles.
President Putin has warned of consequences, but there are apprehensions
now that there could be a massive, massive response, especially
after President Putin had said there will be consequences.
Let me now throw this open for wider discussions.
Now, what is the message from Moscow tonight to Kiev
and to Washington DC and other NATO capitals?
Is President Putin putting NATO on notice or can the
modified nuclear doctrine be dismissed as an empty threat?
Joining me on this special broadcast is Dimitri Leontev, chief
Producer, Russia TV, who joins us from Moscow.
Also with these, Professor Brahma Chilani, former adviser to the
National Security Council and a respected strategic affairs analyst here
in India.
But Dimitri Leontev, if I could come to you first,
bring us details of reports that are coming of Ukraine
firing six US made long range missiles into Russia.
The pleasure to be here.
Well, I don't have any specific details as you as
we understand this is happening right now.
But as far as I know, you've stated it correctly
that there have been 6 missiles.
Five of them have been intercepted midair, 1 was damaged
and landed in the ground.
We've seen some fire.
We're not sure if the fire has anything to do
with the missiles, but there, well, I know from the
Ministry of Defense, they said there has been no casualties.
And so the thankfully this attack has not resulted in
anything significant, which of course doesn't mean that there won't
be other ones and which we seem to believe that
there will be.
And This is why partially why we made sure our
government made sure to for the United States in particular
to understand that our military doctrine is changed.
Our military doctrine right now is going to be alongside
and similar to the military doctrine that the United States
adopted, which is a first strike military doctrine, which is
meaning that you don't need to attack Russia with with
nuclear weapons in order for Russia to use nuclear weapons.
This is the doctrine which United States had for decades.
Russia did not have it.
Soviet Union did not have it.
It seems like President Putin was forced to adopt this
doctrine due to the fact that there might be escalations
to a level we would have to respond now, Dimitri,
would Russia see these six missiles being fired as an
escalation, especially after this decree had been issued by President
Putin?
Or will this be seen as perhaps one more attack
by Ukraine because several drone strikes have taken place even
earlier or at least attempts have been made earlier?
Well, it is an escalation and the escalation is not
in the fact that of the damages and the fact
that the Ukraine has been attacking Russia.
Of course, there's more going on on Russian territory as
we speak.
I mean, that's not a secret to anyone.
The reason why this is an escalation is because our
military generals and our intelligence officials have stated clearly that
the Ukraine does not have the capability to fire these
weapons by itself.
Meaning that we have not only intelligence but actual NATO
and probably American, maybe British, maybe French personnel who are
operating these rockets, who are firing them.
Because the Ukrainians have the don't have the know how
or the capabilities of doing themselves.
Which means we are fighting in a direct war with
NATO and a direct war between two nuclear blocks in
this case could result in third World War.
And This is why its an escalation, not mainly not
because of the damages, but the fact of who is
doing the firing.
OK Professor Chilani, is that also your appreciation?
Because Russia very clearly says Ukraine does not have either
the technical expertise, the know how or the codes to
fire and at a camp or these long range tactical
missiles it would require US personnel or NATO personnel to
do so.
The fact that within 48 hours of US presidents, not
these missiles have been fired 1, Is this an escalation?
2 Are we at the threshold of what many argue
could well be the Third World War?
It's an escalation, but I'm not sure whether we are
on the brink of a third World War.
The reason why it's an escalation is because these types
of missiles, whether they're supplied by the US, Britain or
France to Ukraine, these missiles depend on US navigational data
and satellite reconnaissance capability for targeting, in effect giving NATO
control over targeting.
So this is the reason why Putin thinks that firing
such missiles deep into Russia means that NATO is directly
involved in the war.
So it's a serious escalation in that sense.
And that also explains the strong reaction from Moscow.
The reason why the West has been emboldened to do
this is that they have, they have kept pushing on
rope.
They have crossed each and every red line that Putin
drew.
They thought he was bluffing.
They still think that he's bluffing.
But can the West now dismiss the revised Russian nuclear
doctrine as more bluff?
The the reality is this, that Putin is bluffing until
he's no longer bluffing, that is.
That is the danger.
The danger is that first, at the fag end of
Biden's presidency, with Trump waiting in the wings to take
over, Biden has taken an important decision that complicates the
situation, potentially undermining Trump's declared intent to end the war.
So I'll come to that scotched earth policy in just
a moment, as several people even in the United States
now argue in just a moment.
But for the moment, I want to stay on this
major development that's just taken place.
And you're getting this breaking news story first on India
Today, Ukraine has fired 6 long range US made tactical
missiles deep inside Russia.
Dmitri, can you give us details of what was at
the Bryans region ammunition center, if that was the target?
Any details of the damage on ground?
What was Russias reaction tactically to this move?
Well, I, I, we have to understand that these conversations
have been going on for a few months now, maybe
about half a year.
And then Zelensky went to United States and asking for
long range missiles and we understood that it will be
approved at one point.
So the majority of Russian logistics and military religious have
been moved out of the range of attack guns missiles.
So I'm not, of course, it's a military secret and
I'm not, you know, nobody tells me of like what
was exactly in that depot.
But as far as I understand, and this has been
a conversation in the Russian media and the Russian think
tanks of we have to move our logistics away.
We have to prepare ourselves before this decision was made.
So I, this has been no surprise for us.
So I'm the military significance of this is very little.
What is the significant is the diplomatic significance.
And as I stated before and as your other guests
very clearly stated, the reason why this is escalation is
not because Ukraine will get an advance, it will help
them win the war.
That is impossible.
Everybody understands it's impossible.
There is a consensus around the world that this war
is going to end only one way.
But there is an there is a danger of escalation
because of direct involvement of NATO countries.
Another thing, I'm, I'm sorry not to speak too long.
I want to say one thing.
You've been stated and I think we should correct ourselves
that Biden, President Biden gave the approval for this.
We have received no indication that President Biden, Biden gave
this approval.
The State Department has not stated, not Blinken, not Sullivan,
not President Biden, President Biden.
The only time she was asked about this was somewhere
in the jungle in the Amazon.
And we're not sure if you even know where or
what's going on.
And this isn't particularly very dangerous.
We are not sure in Russia who's making the decisions
in the United States.
President Biden was clearly against it for months.
What is happening now and who made this decision is
a question mark.
Its interesting you should point that out because Professor Chilani
some time back, President Biden was quoted as saying his
entire effort is to prevent a third World War.
But something like this and, and the question that you
know, Dmitri Liyantev raises from Moscow is who is taking
decisions in the United States of America?
Is it, as perhaps President Trump is also asked in
the past, is it President Biden or is it the
deep state of the United States of America or the
arms industry there?
Professor Jelani Gaurav, it's clearly the deep state which is
behind this reckless decision.
Look at the irony of it.
The Democratic Party elites post Biden out of this reelection
campaign because of its cognitive decline.
But now they're sharing Biden for deciding to escalate the
war in Ukraine.
How can a lame duck president, whose cognitive decline has
become increasingly apparent, make key decisions about war and peace
as he heads for the exit?
And, and more fundamentally, in a military sense, this is
not going to change the tide of the war, but
it's going to, it is going to intensify, intensify the
conflict.
And it will invite greater Russian punitive strikes on Ukrainian
energy and other infrastructure at a time when winter has
already set in.
This will make things worse for ordinary Ukrainians.
Ukraine is losing the war.
Russia controls about 1/5 of Ukrainian territory.
And it is also very doubtful because the US has
only supplied.
A small number of these missiles to Ukraine, and it's
doubtful that the US has the industrial capacity to supply
Ukraine these types of missiles in the numbers that would
be required to make a tangible difference on the battlefield.
In fact, the Ukraine war has revealed something very extraordinary.
It has revealed it has, it has exposed Usus military
industrial shortcomings, especially an inadequate capacity to restock weapons and
critical munitions depleted by supplies to Ukraine.
So given those realities, of course, the US is now
wrapping up its industrial capacity to produce these weapons in
critical munitions, but it'll take a year or two before
this new capacity comes online.
So I'm very doubtful as to what this military significance
of this permission to Ukraine is.
It is more designed to undercut promised plan to bring
an end to this war.
And that's the question I was coming to.
Does this actually clear the pitch entirely for President Trump
two months before he enters White House once again?
But Demitri and Yonte, what are options right now for
President Putin?
Because Ukraine has been apprehensive about Russia amassing, according to
some reports, close to 50,000 troops and a large number
of those are North Korean troops for for an offensive
in Kursk.
And it desperately wants to retain the Kursk advantage if
and when negotiation takes place for a territory exchange.
Our government has made it very clear that the idea
that the Russian government will exchange any lengths of the
Ukrainian government at any point is impossible to think of.
This is something which is in the minds of only
Zelensky, maybe some people who sit there in Washington, I
don't know their names.
Nobody says it out loud.
There is no chance that this is that the way
it's going to happen.
The course corporation, although very painful for the Russian people,
has been very successful for the Russian war effort.
The the majority of the main majority of the Ukrainian
army has been involved in Korsk.
The advancement of the Russian army has made in the
Donbass has been much higher, much faster since the Korsk
operation began.
I don't believe that there is any hurry to retake
Kursk at any point.
Of course, if the cost of life would be too
far.
So this is a situation which is ongoing.
And the last thing about N Koreans, no Russians have
seen any North Koreans in our territory.
The fact is, is that I'm not really sure what
what the story is and why N Koreans are so
scary for Ukrainians.
And but I don't think there is any issue of
the fact of even if there are North Koreans, I
haven't seen them in Russia.
We think it's kind of a joke.
But any people who come to our country to fight
on our territory in Korsk isn't, you know, I don't
know why Zelensky would be concerned of it.
I don't think it's any of his business who is
fighting on our territory.
OK, we I will let that be the last word
on this part of the show and we'll be tracking
the story very closely.
Professor Chelani and Dimitri Leonte for joining me here on
India Today.
Many thanks.
I now want to quickly shift focus and take you
to Brazil.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is playing a key role in
shaping international diplomacy at the G20 summit in Rio, from
strengthening ties with major paths to advancing Indias strategic partnerships
in a series of bilateral meetings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi his meetings have set the stage
for new collaborations in trade, in defense and technology.
And do keep one thing in mind that's been emphasized
repeatedly even in Rio.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now one of the tallest
leaders on that international stage, having won 3 elections one
after the other.
We bring you this crowd report.
World leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the G20
summit and India is playing an influential force in shaping
global trade, investment and supply chains.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of high level
bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.
In an interaction with the US President Joe Biden, Prime
Minister Modi discussed key areas of cooperation between the two
countries.
On the sidelines of the G20, External Affairs Minister SJ
Shankar met Chinese Minister Wang Yi and discussed India, China
relations.
Contribution to both platforms was notable in shaping the eventual
outcomes, but it was a reminder to us of the
importance of our two countries in international politics.
It was also Excellency and equally significant testimony of why
our bilateral relations are so important.
With Italian Prime Minister Georgia Maloney, Prime Minister Modi focused
on strengthening ties in defence, security, trade and technology.
Their collaboration is set to be formalized through the India
Italy Joint Strategic Action Prime Minister Modi also met with
French President Emmanuel Macron where they reviewed progress on initiatives
launched during Macron's January visit to India.
Modi also congratulated Macron for France's successful hosting of the
Olympic Games and Paralympics this year.
Key discussions also took place between Prime Minister Modi and
UK Prime Minister Kiir Starmer.
The two leaders highlighted the significance of the comprehensive strategic
partnership between the two nations.
Prime Minister had brief interactions with leaders such as Indonesian
President Provo Subianto, South Korean President Yon Sukhyol and Spanish
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the G20 summit.
Prime Minister Modis diplomatic engagements set the stage for stronger
international partnership across multiple sectors with discussions that are likely
to have a lasting impact on the global stage.
Bureau report India Today.
We will continue to track developments on the story very
closely.
That is all I have for you on India First
this evening.
Many thanks for watching.