Times letters: The truth behind Putin’s nuclear bluster

Sir, Putin’s rhetoric about nuclear weapons looks like a crude attempt to intimidate foreigners who oppose his invasion of Ukraine (“Putin’s Provocations”, Sep 23). So far he has not strayed outside established Russian policy: to retaliate massively in response to a strategic attack, and to use nuclear weapons locally to limit a narrower threat. That is not very different from the nuclear doctrine of the Americans. Since the Russians and Americans both fear nuclear war equally, both have hitherto kept their public statements moderate.

But some of Putin’s spokesmen have now broken that taboo. Backed into a corner by military failure, hotly criticised even by his most “patriotic” supporters, Putin’s own language is increasingly desperate. His talk of nuclear war is probably bluff.