Putin ups the nuclear stakes

Three of Putin's accolytes have now raised the prospect of a war between Nato and Russia and a potential nuclear exchange. First in the frame was that ever-dramatising Dmitry Medvedev, one-time president of Russia and now deputy chairman of the security council of Russia. He spoke of nuclear war like it was almost inevitable. Then came Vyasheslav Volodin, chairman of the state Duma, the Russian lower "parliamentary" house who said the defeat of Russia in Ukraine would lead to nuclear war. And now we have the ultimate whinger-in-chief, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, who while visiting South Africa has warned that the more weapons Nato supplies to Ukraine the bigger the chance of an all-out war between Russia and the West. All of these mates of Putin have obviously been told to spread the word that Russia is ready to press the nuclear button if Putin feels the safety and security of his country depends on it. Whhich of course is contradictory to say the least. If he presses the button much of his country will be destroyed during massive retaliation by the US and Nato. So hopefully it's all bluster aimed at trying to dissuade Germany and other hesitant Nato members to stop providing Ukraine with the weapons that could defeat Russia's invasion force. BUt it's also a sign of desperation on Putin's part. He has very little going for him at the moment and all he can fall back on is nuclear annihilation. He knows he won't press the button but he wants to scare everyone in the West, especially Germany. The West has little alternative but to stand up to Putin's bluster and propaganda. It's a dangerous game but that's where we are.