Washington DC (Washington Insider Magazine)- Russian leader Vladimir Putin has been raising the specter of using a nuclear weapon in his ongoing war with Ukraine. This has raised a lot of concerns and people are wondering about the chances of nuclear war. Putin has done this before, and we know that he is not just bluffing.
The USA dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945 when World War II was ending. There is a lot of likelihood that Russian leaders might use nuclear weapons. Russia is threatening that it might start a nuclear war. We need to do everything that we can to avoid any kind of nuclear war.
Why Is Vladimir Putin Raising The Possibility Of A Nuclear Attack?
Ukraine’s military has been regaining ground in the east and the south of the country. Russia had seized this area earlier in the war but now things are getting better for Ukraine. Russia has seen a lot of setbacks in the war and Putin is facing a lot of pressure. The pro-war camp in Russia is also affected by this development. Russia is looking to unleash the full force of its military in Ukraine so that it can overcome the issues that they facing. Putin has also declared the mobilization of 300,000 additional troops that will be annexing Ukrainian territory.
Will Putin Use Nuclear Weapons?
The Russian leader might use nuclear weapons in case of an emergency. However, the likelihood of Russia using a nuclear weapon is low. If we look at Putin’s current predicament, and his public statements, the threat may seem to increase a lot. Almost a 10 percent to 20 percent likelihood that Russia might use a nuke.
How Could A Nuclear Attack Help Russia In The War?
Russia has been facing a lot of challenges on the war field. The country is looking to get a major military boost and this has given rise to the speculation of a nuclear attack by Russia. Russia has an estimated 2,000 small, low-yield, tactical nuclear weapons and this could be a serious threat to the world. They might use it against specific targets which would help build the concentration of troops.
They also want to reform a strong military base, and a port or an airfield. There is a major problem with using nuclear weapons and Russia might take it under consideration. Russia will do a lot of damage to the world if it uses any kind of nuclear weapons. The relentless barrage of conventional weapons is a threat to the safety of many countries. The Russian military has already devastated some of the major cities of Ukrainian cities with conventional firepower.
The biggest factor in the use of nuclear weapons is that they provoke the sentiments of people. This could also coerce the Ukrainians into accepting his terms. It could also lead to coercing the West into backing off from supporting Ukraine in one way or the other.
Read More: Nuclear War Can Not Be Justified (Nor Nuclear Deterrence)
How are Ukraine and the U.S. Reacting To The Possibility Of The Nuclear Attack By Ukraine?
A senior U.S. defense official told the reporters that the U.S. is keeping a close watch on Russia. They haven’t seen any suspicious Russian moves that could compel the U.S. to change its nuclear posture. The general public is also concerned about the recent nuclear attack.
Ukraine has also not said anything about Putin’s most recent threat. The country has been making efforts in understanding any type of nuclear danger. The accident in 1986 at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, claimed thousands of lives.
While Ukraine owns several nuclear power plants but the country doesn’t have nuclear weapons. Ukraine has also inherited a large nuclear arsenal but it gave up nuclear weapons under a 1994 agreement when Russia pledged to respect Ukraine’s borders.
What Will The U.S. Do If Russia Set Off A Nuclear Weapon?
President Biden’s administration has warned that there could be a possible nuclear attack by Russia. The USA has given an unspecified response but the President has sought to avoid a direct military confrontation with Russia. Chances are that a Russian nuclear strike could change the calculus.
Such a nuclear attack could lead the U.S. and could hit Russian military targets. It is also unlikely the U.S. will be responding with nuclear weapons. People have been talking about things like conventional attacks on the Russian forces in Ukraine. This could be extremely unpleasant for the Russians and will make up for the cost of using nuclear weapons.
