The problem is NATO keeps delivering crippling responses, but Russia has not backed down yet.
I wonder what is the appropriate response to a tactical nuke. Hopefully not another one.
Countries actively avoid proliferating nuclear power because of the existing powers. Letting them be used against you is a strong signal and will weaken trust. It will become even more of an arms race.
Putin isn't even the worst guy in the regime. The least bloody outcome would be a Russian revolution but I think that's asking for a lot of luck and hope. For a world that's ignored the risk of having nuclear weapons, we may now unwittingly be stuck in a trap in which using them is unavoidable.
https://human-rights.cmc.edu/2022/04/14/russias-genocide-han...