Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped up his threats to use nuclear weapons. American analysts reassured that these statements are an attempt to limit Western countries, and not a real possibility, UNIAN agency reported, referring to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to the institute, Russia is unlikely to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine or anywhere in the world, but is only trying to increase control over Western decision-making and prevent long-range strikes on the Russian Federation with allied weapons from being allowed.< /p>
Putin may be seeking to breathe new life into the Kremlin's tired information operation to rattle off nuclear weapons and spark a new wave of panic among Western politicians at a particularly critical moment in the political debate.
Kremlin officials regularly resort to thinly veiled threats of nuclear confrontation at key moments in the Western political debate over increasing aid to Ukraine. This tactic is also being used now when long-range Western weapons strikes against Russian military targets are being discussed. The goal is to instill fear in decision makers.
ISW believes that Russia's nuclear jingling is part of the Kremlin's efforts to help deter the West, not evidence of Russia's readiness to use nuclear weapons.