Russia Nuclear Threats Loom as Communication with White House Continues

Throughout the past two months, the leader of Russia Vladimir Putin has made repeated threats that Russia is ready to use any means necessary, including the use of nuclear weapons, in order to defend the regions in Ukraine in which Russia has claimed to have annexed, according to the New York Post. 

While the White House has continued to downplay the actual risk of a nuclear attack, conversations are taking place with Russian officials in which the emphasis is to ensure that lines of communications are not cut off between Washington and Russia, the Washington Post reported.

“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,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told CBS’s “Face the Nation” in an interview in late September according to the Washington Post.  “We have been clear and specific about what that will entail.”

Most recently, the US has been monitoring Russian naval vessels preparing for a possible test of a new nuclear-powered torpedo. Known as the “Poseidon torpedo,” it is an unmanned underwater vehicle capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear munitions. Its nuclear propulsion system gives it virtually limitless range. Any test of the torpedo would likely fuel tensions further between the US and Russia, according to CNN. 

The Russia-Ukraine war has been on the mind of many students as well. Ben Blitz, a history major at UW-Milwaukee, has kept a close eye on the conflict since its re-escalation at the beginning of this year. Blitz is currently taking a Russian history class and his ancestry from Belarus has drawn his interest in Russian affairs.  

“Over the past few months, the Ukrainians have proven themselves capable of some pretty amazing things,” said Blitz. “Even with Western support, I did not have any real confidence that the Ukrainians would be able to recapture any significant amount of territory from the Russians.”

The Ukrainian counteroffensives being so successful against Russia’s military superiority in air power, tanks and artillery is very inspirational and leads to some confidence in Blitz’s eyes.

Despite Ukraine’s prowess throughout the war Blitz believes the people of Ukraine are still in for some tough times. He predicts that Putin will continue to send new recruits into Ukraine over the next year, making it very difficult for the Ukrainians to take back more land.

“Unless the Russian people start turning on Putin, my best guess is that Putin will not use nuclear weapons,” said Blitz. “It doesn’t look like other Russian leaders or the population has any intention of stopping or removing Putin and until that starts to change, why would Putin risk NATO intervention or a nuclear war when he can just sacrifice his own conscripts?” 

Christine Evans, associate professor of history at UW-Milwaukee, shares optimism that Putin wouldn’t use nuclear force against Russia’s opponents.  

“Obviously, we can’t predict Putin’s behavior because he has made threats before that aren’t that credible. Russia does have a nuclear doctrine that forbids first use, so not only would he have to violate that, but all the people in between him on the chain of command would have to agree to push the button. Which they really might not do especially since it violates Russian law,” said Evans. 

“It seems unlikely, but then again, he has violated the laws of war before in Syria and Chechnya. Disregard for the laws of war and chemical weapons would be precedented for Putin however, nuclear weapons would be unprecedented.”