Risk of Russia using nuclear weapon early in Ukraine war

CIA Director William Burns expressed concern about the risk of Russia using nuclear weapons on the battlefield against Ukraine in 2022, but emphasized that the West should not be intimidated by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats. Burns stated that Putin is a bully and that the West should not be unnecessarily intimidated. He also mentioned that he reiterated the consequences of nuclear escalation during a meeting with his Russian counterpart in 2022. The Kremlin has hinted at the possibility of using nuclear weapons since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, with tensions escalating further after Ukraine’s offensive into Russia’s Kursk region. Despite Russia’s official nuclear doctrine being defensive, there are talks of potential amendments to the nuclear code following Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk.