Kyiv’s western allies boost nuclear deterrence after Putin’s threats

ft.com

10 points·zac23or··4 comments

The Russian president’s nuclear warnings are “a matter that we have to take deadly seriously,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CBS on Sunday.

“We have communicated directly, privately at very high levels to the Kremlin that any use of nuclear weapons will be met with catastrophic consequences for Russia, that the United States and our allies will respond decisively, and we have been clear and specific about what that will entail,” he said.

> "We have communicated directly, privately at very high levels to the Kremlin that any use of nuclear weapons will be met with catastrophic consequences for Russia, that the United States and our allies will respond decisively, and we have been clear and specific about what that will entail"

I read that, and I'm left scratching my head.

What does "catastrophic consequences" mean? We'll go full nuclear war? Sure, America and its allies will land more than 1000 nukes on Russia, while Russia may only land 100 nukes on us. Let's say that Russia only lands 20 nukes. That could still mean millions of deaths.

Or are we saying, here's your red line. Don't cross it, or we go full nuclear war. But the red line allows the Russians to use a few "tactical" nukes. Then Russia will take that as a permission to use nukes.

I'm quite certain that that information is not public.

No one in power is seriously proposing nuclear retaliation to defend Ukraine. The catastrophic consequences would primarily be expanded sanctions. This might include sanctioning foreign entities that conduct any type of trade with Russia, thus severely restricting their imports and exports. I suspect the US would also ramp up covert operations, perhaps trying foment a revolution.

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