Putin issues nuclear warning that could change the course of the conflict with the West

President Vladimir Putin has signaled a “red line” for the United States and its allies, suggesting Moscow could resort to nuclear weapons if Ukraine carries out deep strikes against Russia using long-range Western missiles. However, many in the West question whether this threat is real or just a bluff.

Read more: Putin toughens speech and uses nuclear threat to pressure the West

This doubt is crucial to the outcome of the war. If Putin is merely intimidating, the West can increase military support for Ukraine without fear of reprisals from Moscow. But if Putin is serious, there is a risk that the conflict could escalate into a world war, something that both Moscow and Washington have mentioned as possible.

Recently, Putin expanded on the circumstances that could lead Russia to use nuclear weapons, stating that it could do so in response to major conventional attacks on Russian territory, especially if those attacks were supported by Western nuclear powers. This scenario directly applies to Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles, such as the US ATACMS or the British Storm Shadow.

The Ukrainian response came quickly, accusing Putin of “nuclear blackmail.” American officials and Western analysts also called Putin’s warning irresponsible, suggesting he was trying to psychologically intimidate the West.

Although Putin’s threats may not be immediate, he has been clearer than in the past about the reasons that could lead to the use of nuclear weapons, which worries analysts and increases tension on the international stage.

With information from Reuters*