Brits will NOT be told to prepare for nuclear war with Russia despite sabre-rattling by Putin over Ukraine missiles spurring Scandinavian governments to tell citizens to be ready

So, it would be a serious gamble. But I cannot, however, rule out that the Kremlin is prepared to take its chances. Especially if Moscow feels that it can count on a weak response. We don’t know if it can,

he said on the Bluesky social media platform

Merchant vessels don’t normally go and cut undersea cables for the fun of it,

Braw said

The problem for the Kremlin, of course, is whether the threat of nuclear retaliation to Ukraine striking targets inside Russia with Western conventional weapons is a credible threat,

said Kristensen

Russia's willingness to climb the nuclear ladder to a great extent comes down to the thinking and the predilections of one man, Vladimir Putin,

said Episkopos

The Russian perception that this is a step by the Biden administration to tie Trump's hands when he gets into office,

said Episkopos from the Quincy Institute

I'm somewhat astounded about the details and very broad scenarios described in the document,

said Hans Kristensen, director of the nuclear information project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

It goes far beyond what we have seen in documents from other nuclear-armed states,

he told Newsweek

The West would have to believe that Putin would actually order the use of nuclear weapons in retaliation for a very limited conventional attack that does not in any way threaten Russia's survival or its ability to operate its nuclear forces,

he said

Russia is pushing forward and maybe the calculation is that Russia wants to keep its momentum,

Podvig said

From the Russian perspective, this use is equivalent to an attack by them on Russian territory,

he told AFP

Since there’s little Russia can do in response in practical terms, it turns to threatening language on paper to undermine the resolve of the outgoing Biden administration. That’s understandable — direct and indirect nuclear threats have been so effective in the past in deterring Biden from backing Ukraine fully, that it would be disappointing for Moscow if this latest move didn’t make a difference,

Giles told NBC News

Russia’s move will tie in with the campaign by its backers in the West to paint the easing of restrictions on ATACMS strikes into Russia as a dangerous escalation,

said Keir Giles, senior consulting fellow with the London-based think-tank Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia program

Vladimir Putin-russian President

Our enemies are forced to admit that the determination of the Russian President to firmly defend the fundamental interests of the country by all available means narrows the room for maneuver for Washington and Brussels. Attempts by individual NATO allies to participate in providing for possible long-range strikes with Western weapons deep into Russian territory will not go unpunished,

Putin's spy chief Sergei Naryshkin said in an interview with the magazine National Defense

The doctrinal changes have indeed been in the works for some time. It does appear that the timing of the decree was chosen deliberately, to send a (strong) signal of disapproval of the decision to give the authorization,

said Pavel Podvig, an expert on Russia's nuclear forces

Lloyd Austindefense Secretary

He has rattled his nuclear saber quite a bit and this is dangerous behavior,

Austin said of Putin

It would be a serious gamble,

Podvig, a senior researcher at the U.N. Institute for Disarmament Research, said in an email

I don’t see a change in their strategic force posture and so we’ll continue to remain vigilant in this regard,

he said on the 1,000th day since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor

Dmitry Medvedevformer russian President

Russia could retaliate with WMD against Kiev and key NATO facilities, wherever they’re located. That means World War III,

added Medvedev, who is now the deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council

When it comes to any statements out of Russia and Putin's regime, our clear message is that we will continue to stand steadfast in support of Ukraine and in its defence of itself against an illegal invasion.

Asked if the Government was concerned about claims Russia could step up hybrid warfare against the West, she added

Look, well, I have to say that, well, our Sarmat [Satan-2] missiles are also ready, always ready for use in Trafalgar Square,

threatened Kornilov