American politicians and nuclear war

Consider the escalations that have already occurred, and those that are now explicitly threatened by Russian and Ukrainian leaders:

"Putin officials threaten to escalate attacks after Moscow oil refinery blown up in Kyiv drone strike" | The Independent 

"Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned of “massive coordinated strikes on a regular basis” in response to the [Ukrainian] strikes, which hit [Moscow’s] oil refinery for the second time this week."

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-live-putin-trump-zelensky-g7-news-b2998092.html

Now let's see what Ukraine has said:

"Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that “if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn” (12:44) as he ramped up his rhetoric after overnight drone strikes on the Russian capital (9:55, 11:41, 15:00)."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jun/18/ukraine-russia-moscow-strikes-nato-defence-ministers-hegseth-rutte-latest-news-updates 

Hello?

You don't need a Ph.D. in international relations or a codeword clearance to see that the possibility of this escalating yet further is, to put it mildly, too great for comfort.

Suppose Russia does launch devastating strikes on Kiev, and Zelensky follows through with his threat of devastating strikes on Moscow (does he have that capability? I don't know, but he says he does).

So then how will Russia respond?

They certainly have the capability to drop a nuke on Kiev.

And then what?

Both France and England have nuclear weapons. Would they use them?

Would Ukraine's supporters in the U.S. demand that America responds in kind? I'm sure we would hear that talk from some.

In my view, it would have been far better if 

1. America hadn't propped up Ukraine to the extent it has, 

which would have led to 

2. Ukraine being forced to accept the terms for peace that Russia has been offering for years. 

But oh no, in the minds of the decision makers that was something which had to be avoided.

The huge problem is that Ukraine's supporters in the West have allowed such escalation scenarios to become all too plausible.

With their comparisons of Putin with Hitler, Russia with Nazi Germany, and the 2020s with the 1930s.

=≠=======

 

Also, an escalation by the UK:

"Biggest ever UK drone package for Ukraine announced, including more than 120,000 drones, supplying cutting-edge battlefield technology"

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-announces-biggest-ever-drone-package-for-ukraine-to-push-back-putin

Does that make the UK party to the war?

If those UK-supplied drones start hitting critical targets in Russia, will Russia retaliate against critical UK facilities?

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The overall perspective is that some countries in Europe, and to some extent the United States as well, are in a de facto state of war with Russia, which has risen to the point where damaging strikes are being made on the Russian homeland. At what point will Russia decide to strike back? Have the relevant leaders seriously considered this question?

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For how the "Grey Lady" minimizes the concern over where this could lead, see its 2026-06-19 article 

" ‘Game Changer’? Too Soon to Tell. But Ukraine Flexed in Striking Moscow." - The New York Times https://share.google/bf3shtTOgxccCPSjr

"Mr. Zelensky [secured] a statement of “unwavering support” from the Group of 7 industrialized nations during a summit in France."

Note how that confirms that this war is indeed a war of European nations against Russia.

This exchange of strikes shows how the offensive capabilities of each side overmatch the other sides defensive capabilities. But Russia still has the ultimate card to play. No one should push them into playing it.

More from the NYT article:

"this week’s developments reinforced a growing sense of confidence in Kyiv that it would be able to force the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, to the negotiating table"

Force Putin to the negotiating table, or proke Russia into the use of nuclear weapons? That the NYT won't point out this alternative only proves how they are hiding key possibilities from its readers.

To borrow a metaphor: If you poke a bear enough, it will claw you. People should not ignore that possibility.

See

"Putin formally lowers threshold for using nuclear weapons" | PBS News 

"The new doctrine allows for a potential nuclear response by Moscow even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power."

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/putin-formally-lowers-threshold-for-using-nuclear-weapons