Former US general Hodges says Russia will not use nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Retired US Army General Ben Hodges, the former commander of US Army Europe, said Russia has no intention of using nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine. In comments to the Kyiv Post, Hodges said the likelihood of Russia employing nuclear weapons against Ukraine or elsewhere is effectively zero unless it faces a direct existential threat. Hodges acknowledged that Kyiv's leadership must take Russia's nuclear capabilities seriously, but he described the scenario of nuclear use as practically remote. The retired general's remarks come as Western governments have repeatedly warned of the risk of nuclear escalation in the Ukraine conflict. Russian Presidential Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said at the Primakov Readings Forum in late June that nuclear weapons remain the sole factor preventing a comprehensive global war. Peskov's remarks, reported by Russian state media, reflect Moscow's longstanding public position that its nuclear deterrent helps avert a wider conflict.