The prospect of European nuclear weapons appearing closer to Russia’s borders would force Moscow to respond, Viktor Bondarev, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council’s Defense Committee and former commander of the Aerospace Forces, has warned.

His remarks follow statements by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said that France and Poland are set to hold talks in the coming weeks on practical formats of cooperation in nuclear deterrence. The discussions are expected to cover information sharing, joint exercises, and potentially the deployment of forces.

In Moscow, these signals have already been interpreted as cause for concern. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that plans by Paris and Warsaw to conduct nuclear drills point to a broader European trajectory toward militarization and a stronger nuclear component.

Bondarev, writing on his Telegram channel, stressed that Russia had never stationed its nuclear weapons in countries bordering NATO, keeping them exclusively on its own territory. However, he signaled that such a scenario could prompt what he described as an appropriate response from Moscow.

The senator placed responsibility for the current escalation on Western actions, arguing that they are pushing the world toward a dangerous threshold. He maintained that Russia had no intention of initiating a conflict, but suggested that movement toward what President Vladimir Putin previously described as the inevitability of a clash is being driven by Brussels, Paris, Warsaw, and Washington.

Addressing European countries directly, Bondarev reminded them that Russia possesses a nuclear arsenal capable of ensuring its security. He made it clear that any attempts to bring NATO nuclear weapons closer to Russian borders would be closely monitored and, in the event of a direct threat, would trigger what he characterized as a sobering and irreversible response.

At the same time, Bondarev framed the proposed exercises and information-sharing initiatives as a distraction. In his view, such moves are intended to deflect attention from setbacks faced by Western countries in the Ukrainian direction, as well as from economic and migration challenges within Europe.

He concluded by emphasizing that Russia does not shy away from its nuclear status and cautioned Europe against testing the limits of its patience.