New weapons and nuclear threats: A week of change in Ukraine war 2 hours ago Paul Adams Diplomatic correspondent Reporting from Dnipro Tom Bennett BBC News Reporting from London The stakes have never been higher in the Ukraine-Russia war.
Later in the week, Biden added the final element of a ramped-up weapons arsenal to Ukraine by approving the use of anti-personnel landmines.
On Tuesday, the 1000th day of the war, Putin pushed through changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.
And why else do Western leaders feel ready to gamble with Russia’s nuclear threats?
China, the West believes, would react with horror at the use of nuclear weapons – thus discouraging Putin from making true on his threats.
Nuclear threats and new weapons: A week of shifts in the conflict in Ukraine.
two hours prior.
Adams Paul.
correspondent for diplomacy.
from Dnipro, reporting.
Tom Bennett. .
NBC News.
originating in London.
In the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the stakes are higher than ever.
Western nations significantly increased Ukraine’s military hardware during the week that the conflict reached its 1000th day, and the Kremlin issued its most audacious nuclear strike threats to date.
The events of the past week are described here, along with their implications.
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Western nations support Ukraine.
There were rumors late Sunday night that outgoing US President Joe Biden had authorized Ukraine to attack targets inside Russia with longer-range ATACMS missiles.
Washington, which had for months denied Ukraine’s requests to use the missiles outside of its own borders, made a significant policy shift with the move.
Ukraine fired a barrage of ATACMS missiles into the Bryansk region of Russia after the decision was leaked to the media.
While anonymous US officials said eight were fired, two of them intercepted, the Kremlin said six were fired, five of them intercepted.
This was a historic moment regardless of the details: for the first time in this war, American-made missiles had hit Russian territory.
Ukraine then fired Storm Shadow missiles supplied by the UK on Wednesday at targets in the Kursk region of Russia, where Ukrainian forces have taken control of an area of about 600 square kilometers (232 square miles) of Russian territory.
By authorizing the use of anti-personnel landmines later in the week, Biden gave Ukraine the last component of an expanded arsenal of weapons.
A vital component of Ukraine’s defenses on the eastern frontline, landmines are straightforward, contentious, and incredibly effective. It is hoped that their use will help halt Russia’s advance.
The West gave the world a warning that its support for Ukraine was not going anywhere by making three quick decisions in a few seismic days.
Russian nuclear stakes are raised.
This week, Moscow increased the stakes just as much as Ukraine’s Western allies did.
Putin pushed through modifications to Russia’s nuclear doctrine on Tuesday, the 1000th day of the war, which lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons.
A non-nuclear state attack will be regarded as a joint attack on Russia if it is supported by a nuclear power, according to the doctrine.
After that, the Kremlin escalated its response by attacking the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with a brand-new missile known as the “Oreshnik.”.
According to Putin, there are “no ways of counteracting this weapon” and it traveled at ten times the speed of sound or more.
According to the majority of observers, the strike was intended to serve as a warning that Russia could use the new missile to deliver a nuclear weapon if it so desired.
In the past, the West would have been gravely alarmed by such posture. Not so much anymore.
Putin has repeatedly set nuclear “red lines” since the conflict began almost three years ago, and the West has consistently crossed them. Apparently, a lot of people are accustomed to Russia’s nuclear “sabre-rattling.”.
China is the only other country where Western leaders feel comfortable taking a chance on Russia’s nuclear threats.
In its attempts to lessen the effects of sanctions imposed by the US and other nations, Moscow now relies heavily on Beijing.
The West thinks that if China used nuclear weapons, it would be horrified, which would deter Putin from carrying out his threats.
Our understanding of Russia’s Oreshnik missile.
A global conflict?
The Russian president issued a dire warning that the war had “acquired elements of a global character” in a rare televised speech on Thursday night.
In a similar assessment, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that “the threat is serious and real when it comes to global conflict.”.
The US and the UK are now more involved than ever before, and another nuclear power entered the conflict when North Korean troops were sent to fight alongside Russia.
On Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un blamed the United States for its “aggressive and hostile” policy toward Pyongyang, saying that the threat of a nuclear war was “never before”.
Trump in, Biden out.
Why, then, are these developments occurring at this time?
The most probable explanation is the approaching arrival of Donald Trump, the US president-elect, who will formally take office on January 20.
Trump promised to end the war in “24 hours” while running for office.
Vice President-elect JD Vance and others close to him have hinted that Ukraine will have to make concessions, most likely by ceding land in the Donbas and Crimea.
In contrast, the Biden administration’s actions this week suggest that they want to get as much aid through the door as possible before Trump takes office.
However, some are more optimistic about Ukraine’s future now that Trump is in office.
