Kathrine Frich
The diplomat confirmed he had already discussed these exact fears with both Russian counterparts and Western allies.
When global conflicts drag on for years, the unwritten rules of engagement slowly start to fray.
Leaders often watch nervously as battle lines shift and domestic pressures mount on all sides.
Now, a prominent international diplomat is sounding the alarm about a terrifying shift in military strategy.
A warning from Turkey
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently shared his deep concerns about the ongoing war in Ukraine. He outlined a very specific scenario that could push Moscow toward the unthinkable step of using nuclear weapons.
Speaking to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu cited by United24Media, Fidan warned that the risk increases heavily if the conflict spreads significantly beyond the current front lines. He suggested a prolonged war of attrition could easily trigger a disaster.
He argued that widespread destruction deep inside Russian territory could completely change how government officials view the fight. It might force them to view the situation as a fight for absolute survival.
“When the war of attrition at the front turns into attrition in the rear, the question is no longer whether you lose the war or not, but whether you continue to exist as a nation. You use the last means you have,” Fidan said.
Talks behind closed doors
United24 Media reported that the Turkish official sees this potential escalation as a genuine existential crisis for the Russian state.
The diplomat confirmed he had already discussed these exact fears with both Russian counterparts and Western allies. He noted a worrying shift in the public mood during his recent travels.
“During my visit to Russia, it seemed that this issue could be raised, as there was talk that the public was demanding something like this. We spoke about it with our Western partners, and they know this as well. This is a dangerous situation. Everything that people say will not happen eventually happens,” Fidan said.
Rising internal pressure
Fidan used the Anadolu interview to urge the international community to step in and calm the rising tensions. He cautioned that the war is currently expanding in both its geographic scope and its brutal methods.
These latest fears build on existing pressure from within Moscow. Hardline voices have grown much louder in recent months as the conflict takes a heavier toll at home.
Back in June, Reuters reported that prominent Russian nationalist figures were publicly urging President Vladimir Putin to abandon diplomacy with the United States.
Those commentators demanded far more drastic military measures. They specifically suggested using tactical nuclear weapons as a direct response to a series of successful Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia.
Sources: United24 Media, Anadolu, Reuters
