Putin Says World Is Living Through Dangerous Moment and Warns of Risk of Nuclear Weapons Use

By Reuters Oct. 1, 2026 kremlin.ru Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the world was living through a dangerous moment and that it was essential to ensure that weapons of mass destruction would never be used. Locked in a war in Ukraine which Putin said Russia had no choice to launch to safeguard its own security, the Kremlin chief warned that cycles of escalation in international conflict could quickly lead to dangerous scenarios. "We must realize that the moment when nothing can be changed any longer may come very quickly and unexpectedly for everyone. The logic of escalating, increasingly harsh retaliatory measures leads to a fatal point of no return," Putin told the Valdai Forum of international Russia experts in Moscow. "At the heart of this escalation lie arrogance and overconfidence. This is a path to the brink of the abyss. All the more so today, when the arsenals of the world’s leading powers contain weapons capable of destroying all life or, at thevery least, reducing the Earth to a catastrophic state. Can we be certain that these weapons will never be used? Well, of course not. We must bear this in mind and avoid such an outcome." Read more about: Putin , Nuclear Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Putin Orders Preparations for Possible Nuclear Tests in Response to Trump Trump said last week that he had instructed the Pentagon to “start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis” with Russia and China. 2 Min read Putin Oversees Nuclear Forces Drills – Kremlin Footage showed Putin overseeing the test ICBM launches from land, sea and air while seated alone in the presidential situation room. 1 Min read Putin Gives Go-Ahead to New Nuclear Icebreaker The Leningrad is designed to carve through ice to allow trailing cargo ships easier passage through the frozen northern seas. 1 Min read Moscow to Send Belarus Nuclear-Capable Missiles Within Months – Putin He also offered to upgrade Belarus' warplanes to make them capable of carrying nuclear weapons.