Putin's Nuclear Threat Is a Magic Trick, but a Dangerous One.

The article analyzes Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent use of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in Ukraine, interpreting it as a strategic distraction linked to Western support for Ukraine, rather than a sign of imminent nuclear escalation. It explains that the missile, reportedly conventional and launched from Astrakhan to Dnipro, serves to reinforce Putin's nuclear threats amid the deployment of Western short-range missiles like ATACMS and Storm Shadow. The piece highlights Russia's broader tactics, including sabotage of undersea cables and support for proxy groups, aimed at weakening Western aid to Ukraine and restoring Russia's global influence. Despite heightened rhetoric, the article argues that the risks and costs of actual nuclear use remain prohibitive for Putin at this stage.