Overview
- Putin claims Russia doesn't require nuclear weapons to achieve its goals in Ukraine but refuses to rule out their use.
- Moscow's nuclear drills and threats are seen as a deterrent against Western intervention in the conflict.
- Russian military exercises included deploying tactical nuclear weapons in southern Russia and Belarus.
- Experts believe Russia's nuclear signaling aims to demonstrate its commitment to winning the war and discouraging NATO involvement.
- There are calls within Russia to amend its nuclear doctrine, potentially lowering the threshold for nuclear weapon use.