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Kremlin confirms US-Russia crisis hotline inactive amid rising tensions

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (AFP Photo)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (AFP Photo)

Kremlinspokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russia'snews agency RIA-Novosti that the special hotline between Moscow and Washington, designed to manage crises, is currently inactive.

This comes as tensions escalate following Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons for strikes within Russian territory.

Key developments

Expanded nuclear policy: Russian President Vladimir Putin recently lowered the threshold for deploying nuclear weapons, citing the need to respond to a broader range of conventional attacks.
Ukraine’s use of ATACMS missiles: On the war’s 1,000th day, Ukraine used U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles in strikes against Russian targets. The strikes were permitted by the outgoing Biden administration.
Hotline status: Peskov confirmed that the secure communication line between the U.S. and Russian presidents remains operational but is not currently in use.

Historical significance of hotline

Established in 1963 after the Cuban Missile Crisis, the hotline was designed to prevent misunderstandings that could lead to nuclear conflict.

Despite its significance, it has not been utilized during the current period of heightened tensions.

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 24th Mechanized Brigade fires a 2s5 152 mm self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at an undisclosed location near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region on November 18, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Handout / 24th Mechanized Brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / PRESS SERVICE OF THE 24TH MECHANIZED BRIGADE OF UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSA US MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System round, seen here being test-fired at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico in December 2021, has a range of around 300 km. Use of its true range by Ukrainian forces might offset the threat from a massing of North Korean troops in the Kursk region. (Photo: US Army)DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE - OCTOBER 26: Andrii, a soldier shooting as a drone unit from a battalion of the 24th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces receives training on shooting with various weapons, medical evacuations, and tactical medicine deployment in the Donetsk region, Ukraine on October 26, 2024 ( Andre Luis Alves - Anadolu Agency )Tankers from the 33rd separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces fire with a Leopard 2A4 tank during a field training at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on October 27, 2024. (AFP Photo)

Escalation in Russia-Ukraine war

Kremlin’s accusations: Moscow condemned the West for escalating the conflict by enabling Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, calling the move a deliberate provocation.
Risk of retaliation: Russian officials warned that U.S. operational support for these strikes could make Washington a direct participant in the conflict, increasing the risk of retaliation.
Strategic objectives: The Kremlin accused Western nations of seeking a “strategic defeat” for Russia, using Ukraine as a tool to achieve their goals.

Kremlin's nuclear doctrine

The Kremlin reiterated that its nuclear weapons are intended strictly for deterrence.

The Kremlin stated that its updated nuclear doctrine emphasizes the inevitability of retaliation against any attack on Russian territory.

Russian diplomats likened the current standoff to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, cautioning the West against underestimating Russia’s determination to protect its interests in Ukraine.

Ukrainian servicemen pose for a picture as they repair a military vehicle, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine Aug. 11, 2024. (Reuters Photo)

Humanitarian toll

The conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has devastated Ukraine, displacing millions and killing thousands, most of whom are civilians.

Ukraine continues to advocate for advanced weaponry to target Russian military infrastructure—a strategy Moscow views as a critical threat.

November 20, 2024 10:23 AM GMT+03:00