Vladimir Putin has once again brought up the idea of using nuclear weapons against Ukraine. In a recent Russian film that promotes his leadership, he said that he hopes it won’t be necessary to use such weapons but claimed that Russia has been pushed and provoked by others. According to him, these provocations were meant to make Russia react emotionally or make mistakes. He said there was no need to use nuclear weapons yet, and he hopes things won’t reach that point.
Putin also said that Russia is strong enough and has the resources it needs to keep going with the war it started in 2022. He made it clear that Russia plans to see this conflict through to the end, in a way that benefits Russia.
This isn’t the first time Putin has made nuclear threats. Since the war began, he and Russian officials have mentioned the possibility of using nuclear weapons several times. One of the most serious moments was in October 2022, during a Ukrainian counterattack, when Western media reported that Putin came very close to launching a nuclear strike. The world watched closely, fearing he might actually go through with it.
In November 2024, Putin introduced a new nuclear policy. This new rule says Russia could launch a nuclear attack not just if it is attacked directly, but also if any of its allies are attacked—even by countries that don’t have nuclear weapons—if those countries are supported by a nuclear power. This gives Russia more freedom to justify the use of nuclear force.
Some experts believe Russia is using these threats as a way to scare Western countries and pressure them into backing off. Major General Ilya Pavlenko said in an interview that this kind of nuclear blackmail is used secretly to influence decisions in Europe and the West. In one case, it even led to a pause in the support and weapons being sent to Ukraine.
Putin’s words are part of a long pattern. Even though he says he doesn’t want to use nuclear weapons, his constant reminders that he could are meant to send a message: Russia is willing to do whatever it takes to win, and it wants the world to think twice before standing in its way.
