Russia victory day parades are stupid11/25/2023 ![]() ![]() So, the conflict has been limited in scope partly – but certainly not only – because of the presence of nuclear weapons on both sides. And they know that, just as we need to take Russian nuclear weapons seriously, Russia needs to take Western nuclear weapons seriously. Likewise, the nuclear threat has been operating for Russia as well: the leadership in Moscow know perfectly well that the US, the UK, France and NATO as an alliance are nuclear-armed. One of the reasons that the US and NATO allies don’t want a direct conflict with Russia – but not the only reason – is because at the end of the escalation ladder between Russia and the West is the possibility of the use of nuclear weapons. So, nuclear deterrence has been operating in the background of this conflict from the beginning, and it has to an extent been working on NATO. Unfortunately, Putin’s war on Ukraine has had a nuclear element from the start in unleashing the war, Putin made indirect nuclear threats. Are you surprised by the emergence of these threats? JE: Indirect but obvious threats from Russian politicians, suggesting that their country may be forced to use nuclear weapons if its territory – as defined by Moscow – is threatened, have multiplied in the past few weeks.
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