Russia warns of nuclear weapon drills to ‘cool down’ West. Is it bluffing?

The U.S. later said it would not be changing its nuclear posture in response, underscoring the continued belief that Russia is unlikely to actually use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Russia’s announcement Monday that it will begin practising the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in military drills could set a dangerous precedent for using nuclear threats in diplomacy, analysts warn.

The United States later said it would not be changing its nuclear posture in response to the announcement, underscoring what those experts say is the continued belief that Russia is unlikely to actually use nuclear weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine or against NATO allies.

“Russia’s nuclear rhetoric has been reckless and irresponsible throughout this conflict (with Ukraine),” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

“That said, we have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture in response to these announcements, nor any indications that Russia is planning to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine.”

The White House and the Pentagon made similar comments, adding they have not seen any changes in Russia’s strategic force posture.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby added during a press briefing that if Russia is worried about its troops in Ukraine getting hit by foreign-supplied weapons, “the easiest thing to do is to take your troops and leave.”

Russia has raised the spectre of nuclear warfare since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But the Kremlin warned that its tactical weapons drills were in direct response to “recent bellicose statements by Western officials” and actions taken by NATO to further arm Ukraine.

“We hope that this event will cool down the ‘hotheads’ in Western capitals,” Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.