Ukraine war: Crimea base explosions; Putin accuses US; and Moscow slams 'lies' over nuclear weapons

euronews.com:

Russia has "no need" to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, its defence minister said on Tuesday, calling speculation that Moscow might deploy nukes "absolute lies".

"From a military point of view, there is no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine to achieve the set goals," said Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu at a conference in Moscow. 

"The main purpose of Russian nuclear weapons is to deter a nuclear attack," he added. 

Russia has the second most amount of nuclear weapons in the world, possessing approximately 5,977 nuclear weapons.

In 2021, the country spent an estimated $8.6 billion (Є8.47 bn) to build and maintain its nuclear arsenal, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. 

"The media are spreading speculation about the alleged use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in the course of the special military operation, or about the readiness to use chemical weapons," said Shoigu. "All these informational attacks are absolute lies."

He also alleged Ukrainian military operations were being coordinated by the United States and Britain, and that NATO had ramped up its presence on Russia's borders "several times over."

Last week Russia halted US inspections of its nuclear stockpiles as part of an international arms control treaty, known as NEW START.

In reference to the Obama-era accord, which controls both US and Russian nukes, Shoigu said the situation was "difficult" and that negotiations are "a two-way street".

International experts have said Russia's unilateral move to freeze inspections is an attempt to pressure the US over Western sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine. 

Russia's President accused the United States of whipping up hostilities in Ukraine on Tuesday, as part of an alleged