Part 4/12:
Adding to global tension, Russian President Vladimir Putin explicitly threatened the use of nuclear weapons against NATO nations should they send forces to defend Ukraine. During his recent state-of-the-nation address, Putin warned that Western nations "must understand we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory" and cautioned about "tragic consequences" if NATO intervenes militarily.
This string of warnings leads some analysts to speculate that the leak was possibly a calculated move—perhaps a warning shot to NATO—to signal Russia’s readiness to escalate if international support for Ukraine continues. The timing and nature of the leak suggest it could be aimed at shaping Western perceptions and deterring further Western military aid.