US ‘must not fall for threat of nukes’

WESTERN allies must not “undermine” Ukraine’s mission to recapture all its land by falling for Vladimir Putin’s nuclear rhetoric, defence experts said.

The Russian president increased nuclear threats after military setbacks, but still annexed four areas.

Putin hinted that any Ukrainian attempt to reclaim Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk or Luhansk could be met with a retaliatory nuclear strike as Moscow would treat the attacks as incursions on Russian territory.

But the Institute for the Study of War said: “The Kremlin may conduct future rhetorical nuclear brinksmanship in an effort to prompt the United States and its allies to pressure Ukraine to negotiate; the Kremlin will be unable to directly force Kyiv to negotiate through nuclear threats.

Annihilation

“The Kremlin’s nuclear threats failed to undermine Ukrainian political and societal will to continue to oppose Russia’s invasion.

“The United States and its allies should not undermine Ukraine’s continued dedication to recapturing all Russian-occupied territory.”

The White House said it had grown “increasingly concerned” about the potential use of nuclear weapons in recent months.

But it stressed the US saw no sign of Russia preparing for such use.

Russia has quietly toned down its threats of all-out annihilation over recent days.

The ISW said: “The Kremlin’s rhetorical shift indicates that senior Russian military commanders and elements of the Kremlin are likely to some extent be aware of the massive costs for little operational gain.”