NATO forces would have likely intervened directly in Ukraine’s defense against Russian forces if Moscow did not possess nuclear weapons, according to Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of NATO’s Military Committee.
Speaking at the IISS Prague Defence Summit in the Czech Republic on Sunday, Bauer said, “I am absolutely sure if the Russians did not have nuclear weapons, we would have been in Ukraine, kicking them out.”
💬 “If Russia didn’t have nuclear weapons, we would already be there, kicking them out of Ukraine,” — NATO Military Committee Chair Rob Bauer stated. pic.twitter.com/dUfnkL5kU3
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) November 13, 2024
Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has consistently signaled its readiness to use nuclear weapons as a deterrent against foreign intervention. Shortly after the invasion began, Russian President Vladimir Putin placed the country’s nuclear deterrence forces on high alert.
In subsequent months, prominent Russian officials, including former President Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, emphasized the “considerable” risk of nuclear escalation, reiterating that Russia would respond aggressively to any direct military challenge.
The U.S., U.K., and France—all NATO members—possess nuclear weapons, with additional U.S. tactical nuclear weapons hosted in bases across Europe. However, NATO has consistently maintained a policy of non-involvement in Ukraine’s direct combat, opting instead to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses through arms supplies, financial support, and sanctions against Russia, given the potential consequences of a nuclear confrontation.
In February 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron briefly suggested that Western soldiers might enter the conflict, though these remarks were quickly downplayed, with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg clarifying that the alliance had no intention of sending troops into Ukraine.
