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
- YouTube
Is AI advancing faster than our ability to regulate it? At the 2026 US-Canada Summit in Toronto, hosted by Eurasia Group and RBC, Ian Bremmer says the biggest issue with AI is not the technology itself, but the lack of governance keeping pace with its rapid development and rollout.
Most Popular
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian displays a memorandum of understanding after signing it in Tehran, Iran, on June 18, 2026, after the document was signed by US President Donald Trump.
Iranian Presidency via ZUMA Press
The interim agreement to end the war, signed by both sides on Wednesday, appears to tilt toward Iran. But the regime remains vulnerable.
A displaced woman holds an Iranian flag as she makes her way back to her home in southern Lebanon, on the highway of Sidon, Lebanon, June 16, 2026.
REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
On June 14, the US and Iran announced a deal to end the war. A signing ceremony is set for Friday. The terms include an immediate ceasefire on all fronts. With both sides spinning the deal as a victory, there are plenty of ways for this to go wrong.
Sports inspire greatness, determination, and resilience — both on and off the field. Bank of America is proud to celebrate the achievements of and uplift communities through the power of sports. Learn more about how Bank of America supports athletes in life and in the game.
© 2025 GZERO Media. All Rights Reserved | A Eurasia Group media company.