Letter to the Editor: Putin’s Empty Ukraine Nuclear Threat

Sir, – Further to my letter (110/4 p. 561), I feel the need to draw attention to another fundamentally important point, which I see no sign of being raised because of its dire implications for nuclear deterrence. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threat to use tactical nuclear weapons if thwarted in his ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine is empty. He must know it would be a massive own goal, certainly ensuring ignominious defeat and worse. Paradoxically, Putin has given a huge boost to the drive for a nuclear weapons-free world. By exploiting the current perverse doctrinal co…