Ex-Russian foreign minister: Putin will use nukes if there’s an ‘existential threat’

Russian President Vladimir Putin will resort to using nuclear weapons in the event he believes there is an “existential threat” to his country or to his rule, Russia’s former foreign minister said on Monday.

"They could be used, but in very, very specific situations," Andrei Kozyrev told Fox News Digital.

"If Russia or one of those countries really threatened in their hearts – existentially, that is … if NATO troops come to Moscow, then probably they will resort to nuclear weapons."

"But there is no existential threat to Russia under the present circumstances," added Kozyrev, the author of "The Firebird: The Elusive Fate of Russian Democracy.”

Putin remarked about nuclear weapons after Sweden and Finland signalled they were considering applying for NATO membership in June when the next NATO meeting takes place in Madrid.