David Williams, a senior civil servant at the Department of Defense (MoD), said there was no plan for Britain to further increase the number of nuclear warheads it possessed, but revealed that it was something under control. He also expressed concern about a nuclear-armed Russia under President Vladimir Putin, whose conventional forces appear to be performing poorly on the ground in Ukraine. “An unpredictable and frustrated Putin seems dangerous to me,” Mr Williams said. “This calibration of the threat is something we must definitely be alive for.” Ukraine most recent: Gas applications rejected as “blackmail”. 148 children were killed Image: Ukrainian soldiers in armored personnel carrier in Russian position outside Kyiv Read more: Explain the invasion of Ukraine Mr Putin has raised the specter of a nuclear war with NATO allies and has put his nuclear-armed forces on alert since the start of his invasion of Ukraine. However, Williams said Moscow’s “nuclear stance” – although “clearly worrying” – was merely rhetorical and failed to deter NATO allies from stepping up defense on the east side of the alliance and supporting the Ukrainian army. . The senior mandarin spoke with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of Defense Staff, at an event at the Institute for Government Reservoir in London on Thursday. Both men made brief remarks before asking questions, including on plans for the future of the UK Armed Forces and the crisis in Ukraine. Image: Destroyed Russian military vehicles on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine A year after the United Kingdom published a sweeping review of its defense and security policy, the Permanent Secretary of Defense gave strong support to Britain’s nuclear deterrent – which includes a fleet of four nuclear-armed submarines. A boat is standing at sea, ready to shoot if needed. Mr Williams said: “The resurgence of state competition underscores for me the importance of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.” He said: “I think we have a clearer assessment of our role as a nuclear weapons state than we may have had for some time.” Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:47 War in Ukraine: What happened on the 36th day of the conflict? The Comprehensive Review, published in March 2021, reversed a planned reduction in Britain’s nuclear warheads, saying a new ceiling would rise to 260 out of 180. Asked if the UK might need to reconsider a possible further increase in the number of heads, Mr Williams said: “I do not think we have any immediate plans to increase the stock. It is something we will keep in mind.”
