**Russia Raises Nuclear Stakes Against NATO**
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has been making bold threats against NATO. But what’s behind these threats? The Kremlin is using propaganda to amplify Western fears, says a recent article.
**A Ban Reversed**
In November, the US reversed a ban on Ukraine using long-range missiles to hit targets inside Russia. This was done because of fear that Russia could escalate the conflict and use nuclear weapons. However, this move led Putin to respond with changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine. He lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons.
**Russia Strikes Back**
Russia then used an intermediate-range missile called the Oreshnik, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, to strike Ukraine. Putin announced that Russia had the right to attack military installations in states that allow Ukraine to use their weapons against Russia. This was seen as a direct threat to the US and UK.
**Fear and Frenzy**
The news around the world caused alarm. News outlets in the UK asked if Putin was ready to press the nuclear button, and even mentioned the possibility of World War Three.
**Russian Media Gloats**
Western stories that amplified Putin’s threats were covered extensively in Russian media reports. A report on the Guardian suggested that Putin directly threatened London and Washington, which a host on Russia 1 television channel responded to by saying “they understand us correctly.”
**Russia Sees West as Existential Threat**
The Kremlin has made it clear that it sees the West, particularly the US, as an existential threat to Russia. This is not just because of Western military support for Ukraine or severe sanctions on Russia.
**Putin’s Ideological Plank**
Opposition to the global influence of Western states and the spread of liberal values is now a main part of Putin’s presidency ideology.
**Russia’s Strategy**
However, Russia has neither the capability nor appetite for direct military confrontation with NATO. If it were conventional, Russia would lose; if nuclear, everyone – including Russia – would suffer. The Kremlin relies on other tools to limit support for Ukraine, weaken Western states, and fracture Western societies.
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