Russia-Ukraine conflict: Nuclear weapon attack would be catastrophic

Demonstrators supporting Ukraine gathered outside the United Nations building in New York City during an emergency meeting there of the UN General Assembly yesterday, Feb 28. With Russian nuclear forces put on high alert, the UN's two major bodies, the 193-nation General Assembly and the more powerful 15-member Security Council, held separate meetings on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. — AP

THE news that Russian president Vladimir Putin has put Russia’s nuclear forces on “high alert” is alarming. This is an extremely dangerous move, one that reeks of brinkmanship, that could plunge the entire world into an unending nuclear winter. A nuclear weapon attack on its own is already catastrophic, but one that is inflicted on a world already struggling with the consequences of Covid-19 and the climate crisis could push our planet over the cliff-edge.

This conflict once again demonstrates how dangerous it is for nuclear weapons to exist in our midst. The “high alert” declaration may result in further escalation of this conflict and push the whole of humanity closer and closer to the nuclear abyss.