Part 10/12:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if it perceives an existential threat. According to Russia’s official doctrine, the embrace of nuclear escalation could happen if faced with an armed attack, whether conventional or nuclear, or if a nuclear-armed partner joins a conflict against Russia. This statement is widely viewed as a warning to the West, especially in light of NATO’s provision of advanced weaponry to Ukraine—a move Russia perceives as provocative.