Putin's nuclear warnings: heightened risk or revolving door? - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Observers have put forward varying explanations suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes, through nuclear threats, to achieve some current or future tactical edge in his face-off with Ukraine and NATO. But none of that reasoning erases a dangerous reality: Any Russian use of tactical nuclear weapons would create unprecedented conditions that could easily lead not to Russia's advantage, but to a wider nuclear war that would decimate Russia—and its leadership. Observers have put forward varying explanations suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes, through nuclear threats, to achieve some current or future tactical edge in his face-off with Ukraine and NATO. But none of that reasoning erases a dangerous reality: Any Russian use of tactical nuclear weapons would create unprecedented conditions that could easily lead not to Russia's advantage, but to a wider nuclear war that would decimate Russia—and its leadership.

Related Keywords

Kansas , United States , Washington , White House , District Of Columbia , Russia , China , Ukraine , France , Berlin , Germany , Leavenworth , Chinese , Russian , Ukrainian , French , American , Russians , Alexander Gabuev , William Alberque , Dmitry Adamsky , Lesterw Grau , Vladimir Putin , Charlesk Bartles , Eliana Johns , Volodymyr Zelensky , Matt Korda , Sergei Karaganov , Max Seddon , George Beebe , Chris Cook , Ivan Timofeev , Anatol Lieven , Hansm Kristensen , Foreign Military Studies Office , International Institute For Strategic , Russian International Affairs Council , National Security Strategy Washington , Russian Nuclear Weapons , Modernization Of The Russian Armed Forces Ft , Nuclear Notebook , Congressional Commission , Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center , Russian President Vladimir Putin , Financial Times , French President Emmanuel Macron , Many Russian , Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky , Special Military Operation , Prominent Russian , Necessary Decision , Strategic Posture , Cold War , International Institute , Strategic Studies , Russia List , Responsible Statecraft , Atomic Scientists , Russian Way , Force Structure , Russian Armed Forces , National Security Strategy ,