Will Putin Drop a Nuclear Bomb on Ukraine? Here's What Americans Think
10/29/22
More than half of Americans believe Russia using a nuclear bomb in Ukraine is either a "realistic" or "very realistic" scenario, according to an exclusive Newsweek poll.
When asked: "Do you think it is a realistic possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin may use a nuclear bomb in Ukraine?" 14 percent of eligible U.S. voters said "very realistic," with 44 percent saying it was "realistic."
Another 19 percent said nuclear use is "neither realistic nor unrealistic," whilst just 12 percent of Americans described it as either "unrealistic" or "very unrealistic."
Between October 23 and 24, 1,500 "eligible voters in the United States" were surveyed, with the poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek.
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Ben Hodges, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, has warned it is "very unlikely" Russia will deploy a nuclear weapon, however.
Speaking to the Kyiv Post earlier this week he said: "Russia does have thousands of nuclear weapons and I take the threats very seriously, but I think it's very unlikely that they would use the nuclear weapon because of all the negative consequences they would have to face."
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Defense released a new report, the 2022 National Defense Strategy, which called Russia an "acute" threat to America.
"Contemptuous of its neighbors' independence, Russia's government seeks to use force to impose border changes and to reimpose an imperial sphere of influence. Its extensive track record of territorial aggression includes the escalation of its brutal, unprovoked war against Ukraine," the report said.
It continued: "Russia presents the most acute example of [potentially escalating to nuclear employment] given its significantly larger stockpile of regional nuclear systems and the possibility it would use these forces to try to win a war on its periphery or avoid defeat if it was in danger of losing a conventional war."
Newsweek has reached out to the Russian foreign ministry for comment.
More than half of Americans believe Russia using a nuclear bomb in Ukraine is either a "realistic" or "very realistic" scenario, according to an exclusive Newsweek poll.
When asked: "Do you think it is a realistic possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin may use a nuclear bomb in Ukraine?" 14 percent of eligible U.S. voters said "very realistic," with 44 percent saying it was "realistic."
Another 19 percent said nuclear use is "neither realistic nor unrealistic," whilst just 12 percent of Americans described it as either "unrealistic" or "very unrealistic."
Between October 23 and 24, 1,500 "eligible voters in the United States" were surveyed, with the poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek.
Above, a nuclear test conducted in Nevada on September 14, 1957 is seen. Inset, Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen at Thursday's Valdai International Discussion Club. More than half of Americans think Putin using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine is "realistic" or "very realistic," according to an exclusive "Newsweek" poll.
CONTRIBUTOR/CORBIS/GETTY
The poll also found 52 percent of Americans think Ukraine should seek to "recover all territory lost since February 2022," before seeking a peace agreement with Russia.
Another 20 percent said Ukraine should regain all territory lost since 2014, which includes the Crimean peninsula, before striking a deal with the Kremlin. In addition, 27 percent of those surveyed said they didn't know.
On Wednesday, Russia conducted major nuclear weapons drills, which were described on Russian state television as practice for "destroying the USA and formerly great Britain." The exercises involved Tupolev Tu-95MS long-range bombers and a Yars
In a statement, the Russian defense ministry said: "The event was held in order to test the level of preparedness of the military command and control echelons and the skills of senior and operational personnel in organizing troop command and control. The tasks set out during the drill of the Strategic Deterrence Forces were performed in full. All missiles reached their targets, confirming the rated characteristics."
The poll also found 52 percent of Americans think Ukraine should seek to "recover all territory lost since February 2022," before seeking a peace agreement with Russia.
Another 20 percent said Ukraine should regain all territory lost since 2014, which includes the Crimean peninsula, before striking a deal with the Kremlin. In addition, 27 percent of those surveyed said they didn't know.
On Wednesday, Russia conducted major nuclear weapons drills, which were described on Russian state television as practice for "destroying the USA and formerly great Britain." The exercises involved Tupolev Tu-95MS long-range bombers and a Yars
In a statement, the Russian defense ministry said: "The event was held in order to test the level of preparedness of the military command and control echelons and the skills of senior and operational personnel in organizing troop command and control. The tasks set out during the drill of the Strategic Deterrence Forces were performed in full. All missiles reached their targets, confirming the rated characteristics."
READ MORE
Russian state TV host: Ukraine invasion to become "gigantic European war"
Ben Hodges, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, has warned it is "very unlikely" Russia will deploy a nuclear weapon, however.
Speaking to the Kyiv Post earlier this week he said: "Russia does have thousands of nuclear weapons and I take the threats very seriously, but I think it's very unlikely that they would use the nuclear weapon because of all the negative consequences they would have to face."
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Defense released a new report, the 2022 National Defense Strategy, which called Russia an "acute" threat to America.
"Contemptuous of its neighbors' independence, Russia's government seeks to use force to impose border changes and to reimpose an imperial sphere of influence. Its extensive track record of territorial aggression includes the escalation of its brutal, unprovoked war against Ukraine," the report said.
It continued: "Russia presents the most acute example of [potentially escalating to nuclear employment] given its significantly larger stockpile of regional nuclear systems and the possibility it would use these forces to try to win a war on its periphery or avoid defeat if it was in danger of losing a conventional war."
Newsweek has reached out to the Russian foreign ministry for comment.
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