Truth or bluff? Why Putin's nuclear warnings have the West worried

Putin cautioned it was no bluff, and Western politicians, diplomats and nuclear weapons experts are divided. Some say he could use one or more smaller, tactical nuclear weapons to try to stave off military defeat, protect his presidency, scare off the West or intimidate Kyiv into capitulation.

"If the choice for Russia is fighting a losing war, and losing badly and Putin falling, or some kind of nuclear demonstration, I wouldn't bet that they wouldn't go for the nuclear demonstration," Tony Brenton, a former British ambassador to Russia, told Reuters in August, before Putin stepped up his warnings.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told U.S. TV networks on Sunday that President Joe Biden's administration was taking Putin's comments "deadly seriously" and had warned Moscow of specific "catastrophic consequences" if it used nuclear arms. Shorter-range lower-yield weapons launched by sea, air or land could theoretically be used against Ukrainian military targets, though their effectiveness in such a scenario is a matter of debate among military experts.

Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London, said there was no evidence Moscow was gearing up for such a nuclear strike at the moment and that Washington would know "pretty quickly" if it was. Betts of Columbia University said: "You can see the pressures he is under and the rationales in his mind about how the use of a small nuclear weapon might work for his purposes to reverse the situation, frighten the West, and get him out of the bind he is in."Putin says Russia is now fighting for its existence in Ukraine after years of humiliation at the hands of an arrogant West which wants to destroy the former superpower.

Shoulda stayed out of it in the 1st place. Only reason we're spending money there is because the elites use it for money laundering.

You are aware that strikes are, not total devastation of the world, they could hit Vancouver or TO, it is all dependent on the strike used. Scary for sure, the West should be concerned.

Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

A nuclear scientist on Russia’s threat of nuclear warRussian President Vladimir Putin said Russia might use nuclear weapons if its territory is threatened
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »

Opinion | Vladimir Putin is using nuclear terror to alarm NATO countries, as his miscalculations threaten his power at homeOpinion: Putin appears to be covertly threatening a nuclear catastrophe that could make parts of Ukraine uninhabitable, contaminate eastern Europe and spread radioactivity throughout the European continent and beyond. Yep. And we thought COVID with the Depp vs Heard dramas sucked. I doubt it There would also be issues of radiation blowing back onto Russia. Or doesn't he care?
Source: TorontoStar - 🏆 60. / 55 Read more »

U.S. believes it's unlikely Putin will use a nuclear weapon but threat has 'elevated'U.S. officials believe that the likelihood Russian President Vladimir Putin will use a tactical nuclear weapon in his struggling war in Ukraine is perhaps the highest it has been since Russia invaded in February — but is still not probable, multiple officials familiar with the latest intelligence tell CNN.
Source: CTVCalgary - 🏆 26. / 68 Read more »

The West should prepare for the worst from PutinThe Russian president is not up against significant pressure from his key allies to temper his deluded attempt to destroy Ukraine in the name of revanchist Russian empire-building.
Source: TheHillTimes - 🏆 11. / 79 Read more »

Students take a walk towards reconciliationHuntsville, Ont. students do trail and story walk to learn about Truth and Reconciliation week.
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Putin grants Russian citizenship to U.S. whistleblower Edward SnowdenPresident Vladimir Putin on Monday granted Russian citizenship to former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.
Source: TheTorontoSun - 🏆 23. / 68 Read more »