The Pentagon has released a new assessment of what President Vladimir Putin can be expected to threaten to use nuclear weapons against the West if Ukraine continues to actively resist the Russian invasion by depleting conventional forces and equipment.
“The prolonged occupation of part of Ukrainian territory threatens to deplete the Russian armed forces and reduce the arsenal of modernized weapons. Subsequent economic sanctions are likely to plunge Russia into a prolonged economic depression and diplomatic isolation,” said Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier.
The director of the Defense Intelligence Agency has released a 67-page global threat brief, Bloomberg reports.
“As this war and its aftermath gradually weakens Russian conventional power, Russia is likely to rely increasingly on its nuclear deterrent to signal the West and project its power to its internal and external audiences,” Berrier added.
He recalled that Putin’s February order to place Russia’s nuclear forces on “special combat duty” referred to “enhanced training designed to ensure a quick transition to a higher level of readiness, if the situation so requires.”