President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning to the United States and its allies, stating that Russia will consider responding with nuclear weapons if Ukraine is allowed to strike deep inside Russian territory with long-range Western missiles. This has raised concerns in the West, with some questioning whether Putin is bluffing. The potential consequences of his threat are significant, with the risk of the conflict escalating to World War Three.
Putin recently expanded the scenarios that could trigger the use of nuclear weapons, citing a major cross-border conventional attack involving aircraft, missiles, or drones as a potential trigger. His comments were seen as a clear message to Western countries considering supporting Ukraine with long-range missiles. The response to Putin’s warnings has been mixed, with some viewing it as nuclear blackmail and others interpreting it as psychological PR.
While some experts believe that Russia’s nuclear use is not imminent, Putin’s announcement has lowered the threshold for nuclear use, particularly in response to conventional threats that pose a critical threat to Russian sovereignty. The changes in Russia’s nuclear doctrine have been seen as a message to Ukraine and the West to deter further escalation of the conflict. Concerns have been raised about the implications of ignoring Russia’s red lines and the potential for miscalculations leading to a dangerous escalation.
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