UK intelligence explains purpose of Putin's nuclear threats
Russian President Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Recent threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the possible use of nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine are part of a long-standing intimidation strategy, according to the UK Ministry of Defence on the social media platform X.
British intelligence analyzed Putin’s May 4 statement, in which he claimed that during the full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia has had no need to use nuclear weapons and that he hopes it won’t be necessary.
Analysts believe this continues a series of nuclear threats from the Russian leadership, which have become particularly intensified since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
They also emphasized that Russia is now increasingly portraying the war not as a special military operation against Ukraine, but as a global confrontation with the West, which serves to justify a prolonged conflict.
“The rhetoric evidenced in this trend highly likely seeks to excuse both the length of the conflict, and the continually increasing scale of Russian losses (likely over 950,000 casualties, including 200,000 - 250,000 Russian soldiers killed). It is also highly likely aimed at situating the domestic population for a longer-term conflict and the associated decline in domestic living standards,” British intelligence stated.
Putin’s nuclear threats
On May 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again resorted to nuclear threats against Ukraine, claiming that Russia had been provoked.
“They tried to provoke us, to make us make mistakes. Well, there was no need to use the weapon you mentioned (nuclear weapons) and, I hope, it won't be necessary,” Putin stated.
At the same time, he assured that Russia has sufficient forces and means to bring what was started in 2022 to its logical conclusion with the result Russia needs.
