GZERO World Clips
Russia-US nuclear war is no fantasy, says Kremlin ally
Russia-US nuclear war is no fantasy, says Kremlin ally | GZERO World
June 28, 2023
Russia has the world's largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. But from Moscow's perspective, the atomic deterrent was not enough to keep the US and its NATO allies from backing Ukraine against Russia.
That was unexpected since the Kremlin views this as a Western intervention in a proxy war that is strategically vital to Russia, Dmitri Trenin, an ex-Russian intelligence colonel and former director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.
For Trenin, all nuclear bets are off if the trajectory of the conflict leads to direct military conflict between Russia and NATO.
"If there is such a collision, then (...) a nuclear exchange between Russia and the United States may not be seen as a fantasy," he says. "This is my worry."
Watch the full interview with Trenin in the season premiere of GZERO World with Ian Bremmer's sixth season. airing on US public television nationwide. Check local listings.
From Your Site Articles
- The Graphic Truth: Russia's tactical nukes ›
- Nuclear weapons could be used; Russia's war gets more dangerous ›
- The Graphic Truth: The US-Russia nuclear race ›
- Will Putin drop a nuke on Ukraine? ›
- Podcast: NATO’s Russia problem: the increasing danger of military confrontation between nuclear powers ›
- Why Russia is fighting in Ukraine without any allies - GZERO Media ›
- Russia's war: no end in sight - GZERO Media ›
- Putin's endgame in Ukraine - GZERO Media ›
- Russia leaves nuclear test ban treaty in show of public posturing - GZERO Media ›
More For You
Hellenic coast guard performs SAR operation, following migrant's boat collision with coast guard off the Aegean island of Chios, near Mersinidi, Greece, February 4, 2026.
REUTERS/Konstantinos Anagnostou
15: The number of migrants who died after their boat accidentally collided with a Greek Coast Guard vessel in the Aegean Sea on Tuesday. Two dozen people were rescued.
Most Popular
Walmart is investing $350 billion in US manufacturing. Over two-thirds of the products Walmart buys are made, grown, or assembled in America, like healthy dried fruit from The Ugly Co. The sustainable fruit is sourced directly from fourth-generation farmers in Farmersville, California, and delivered to your neighborhood Walmart shelves. Discover how Walmart's investment is supporting communities and fueling jobs across the nation.
Workers repair a pipe at a compound of Darnytsia Thermal Power Plant which was heavily damaged by recent Russian missile and drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 4, 2026.
REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko
Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen announced Wednesday that he will not run for a third term as leader of the liberal, pro-business party, after months of internal pressure over a host of controversies – including allegations, since cleared, that he used the party credit card for Uber Eats.
© 2025 GZERO Media. All Rights Reserved | A Eurasia Group media company.