But the threshold on which the Russian President will escalate the conflict into a nuclear one is unpredictable, according to military scholars and experts, but it’s highly likely it will hinge on NATO involvement.
It’s highly unlikely a nuclear threat could materialise if cracks in the Western coalition begin to show, and if Russia’s Ukraine campaign goes smoothly from here on out, there’d be no need for a nuclear option.
But if there was significant opposition to the war in Russia, Ukraine continues to see off Russian forces, and NATO maintains its unity over the issue, it could press President Putin to the nuclear option.
Or, if NATO switches and decides to send troops into Ukraine – or continues to supply the country with arms and machines of war – President Putin could find himself backed into a corner.