The use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine would be a disaster for Putin — Sky News

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is unlikely to risk using nuclear weapons in a full-scale war against Ukraine, as such a move would have catastrophic consequences for him personally and for the Russian Federation as a whole. This view was expressed by renowned British military analyst Michael Clarke.

According to the expert, the use of a nuclear arsenal would instantly and inevitably cement Putin’s status as the greatest war criminal of the 21st century. Clark expressed doubt that the Kremlin leader truly seeks to leave such a historical legacy. Furthermore, such a move would provoke an unprecedented and decisive backlash from the international community—even Russia’s key current partners, including China, would turn away from Russia and its leader, completely withdrawing their support from Moscow.

The military analyst also drew attention to Washington’s position, noting that U.S. President Donald Trump is seriously concerned about the likelihood of such a scenario. According to Clark, the American leader believes that Putin is much closer to making a decision on a nuclear strike than most politicians and experts think, and it is precisely because of these fears that Trump feels a certain nervousness in relations with the Kremlin.

However, Michael Clark himself does not share the U.S. president’s anxiety and is convinced that Russia will not take this step, as it would have too severe and negative an impact on its own position in the war. A real nuclear strike could make sense for the aggressor only for the sole purpose of large-scale terror—for example, to attack cities such as Kharkiv or Poltava in order to kill as many civilians as possible. Despite the general desperation of the Russian leadership’s actions, the analyst currently sees no real signs or preparations for such a scenario.