Russian leader Vladimir Putin has alarmed Western leaders by referring to the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, diplomatic sources told the Daily Mail.
According to the sources, Putin expressed the view that the bombings - which caused the Japanese surrender and the end of World War II - showed that "you don't have to attack big cities to win."
The United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945. The bombings killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians. Japan surrendered to the Allies on August 15. The reported remarks come amid growing concerns that the Russian leader may be prepared to use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine, where Russian forces have suffered increasing setbacks in the conflict.
A source said: “Macron was clearly alarmed. It seemed like a very serious hint that Putin might detonate a tactical nuclear weapon in eastern Ukraine, leaving Kiev untouched. That seemed to be the gist of his remarks."
A French government source told this newspaper: "The two presidents have undoubtedly discussed the danger of using nuclear weapons. Putin wants to convey the message that all options are on the table, consistent with Russian doctrine regarding nuclear weapons.