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Pentagon Says Frustrated Putin May Use Nukes If War In Ukraine Is Unwinnable - Foreign Affairs - Nairaland 5z423c

Pentagon Says Frustrated Putin May Use Nukes If War In Ukraine Is Unwinnable (30221 Views)

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GodHatesBigots(m): 12:24am On Mar 18, 2022
President Vladimir Putin can be expected to brandish threats to use nuclear weapons against the West if stiff Ukrainian resistance to Russia’s invasion continues, draining conventional manpower and equipment, according to a new assessment by the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency.

“Protracted occupation of parts of Ukrainian territory threatens to sap Russian military manpower and reduce their modernized weapons arsenal, while consequent economic sanctions will probably throw Russia into prolonged economic depression and diplomatic isolation,” Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said in its new 67-page summary of worldwide threats.

The combination of Ukraine’s defiance and economic sanctions will threaten Russia’s “ability to produce modern precision-guided munitions,” Berrier said in testimony submitted to the House Armed Services Committee for a hearing on Thursday.

“As this war and its consequences slowly weaken Russian conventional strength,” Berrier added, “Russia likely will increasingly rely on its nuclear deterrent to signal the West and project strength to its internal and external audiences.”

The Pentagon agency’s grim appraisal of the war’s broader stakes comes on the eve of a call between President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping. Even as U.S. officials struggle to discern China’s position on the war, Biden will seek Xi’s help ratcheting up pressure on Moscow to end it.

Putin already has announced that he’s put Russia’s nuclear arsenal on a state of higher alert. The Russian Embassy in Washington didn’t immediately return a request for comment on the Defense Intelligence Agency report.

Unlike a report on global threats issued by multiple intelligence agencies last week with findings that predated the Russian invasion, the new report reflects information as of Tuesday.

A senior Pentagon official told reporters Thursday that the invasion is largely stalled, with Russia relying so far on more than 1,000 long-range missile strikes into Ukraine.

“U.S. efforts to undermine Russia’s goals in Ukraine, combined with its perception that the United States is a nation in decline, could prompt Russia to engage in more aggressive actions not only in Ukraine itself, but also more broadly in its perceived confrontation with the West,” Berrier said.

A key motivation for the invasion, he said, is Russia’s determination “to restore a sphere of influence over Ukraine and the other states of the former Soviet Union.”

He added that “despite greater than anticipated resistance from Ukraine and relatively high losses in the initial phases of the conflict, Moscow appears determined to press forward by using more lethal capabilities until the Ukrainian government is willing to come to favorable to Moscow.”


Putin’s Order

Berrier said Putin’s order in February putting Russia’s nuclear forces on “special combat duty” refers to “heightened preparations designed to ensure a quick transition to higher alert status should the situation call for it.”

In addition to seeking to intimidate Russia’s adversaries, he said, it reflects “Moscow’s doctrinal views on the use of tactical, non-strategic nuclear weapons to compel an adversary” into pursuing negotiations “that may result in termination of the conflict on favorable to Russia, or deter the entry of other participants when Russian offensive progress of its conventional forces looks like it might be reversed or the conflict becomes protracted.”

On conventional forces, Berrier said Russia’s setbacks so far in Ukraine call into question Putin’s boasts about his military’s ability to deter or defeat threats with “fifth-generation fighters, state-of-the-art air and coastal defense missile systems, new surface vessels and submarines, advanced tanks, modernized artillery, and improved military command and control and logistics.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-17/putin-is-likely-to-make-nuclear-threats-if-war-drags-u-s-says

6 Likes 2 Shares

IgOga(m): 12:36am On Mar 18, 2022
Pentagon talks too much....Ukraine had won on social media

158 Likes 14 Shares

Totilopussylick(m): 12:50am On Mar 18, 2022
The war isn't as terrible as we thought tongue

11 Likes 1 Share

Mynd44: 4:40am On Mar 18, 2022
Putin used a lot of lies as excuse to invade Ukraine.
America used lies to attack Iraq
Now America is lying to plunge the whole of Europe into a war.

The heavy industries that produce arms must sha sell

129 Likes 11 Shares

money121(m): 4:41am On Mar 18, 2022
Ok

1 Like

chopnaira: 4:41am On Mar 18, 2022
Especially that is mental health has suffered, and he seems to be suffering from Paranoia. He feels everyone is out to get him.

They need to keep a close eye on him.

72 Likes 8 Shares

zolajpower: 4:41am On Mar 18, 2022

6 Likes 1 Share

CryptoTeacher(m): 4:43am On Mar 18, 2022
Putin isn't going to try that. The consequences will be too grave for him and Ukraine.

5 Likes

emmabest2000(m): 4:44am On Mar 18, 2022

3 Likes 2 Shares

elmessiahs(m): 4:45am On Mar 18, 2022
Let God rule forever

17 Likes 2 Shares

BarrElChapo(m): 4:45am On Mar 18, 2022
May Putin and everything he holds dear die very painful deaths.

45 Likes 6 Shares

RedChair: 4:46am On Mar 18, 2022
GodHatesBigots:


Berrier said Russia’s setbacks so far in Ukraine call into question Putin’s boasts about his military’s ability to deter or defeat threats with “fifth-generation fighters, state-of-the-art air and coastal defense missile systems, new surface vessels and submarines, advanced tanks, modernized artillery, and improved military command and control and logistics.”


When Putin mentioned Nuke as a possibility, I knew that things weren't so right with Russia & her conventional forces.

Shortly into a war, you're already talking about going nuclear.
So where are all the military technology and gadgets Russia was always displaying?

Asking China for military weapons ? Even drones?? shocked

Oh please!

159 Likes 15 Shares

EatforHealth: 4:47am On Mar 18, 2022
No one is innocent and everyone go dey alright las las

At the end of the day, it's the grasses (masses) that will suffer

6 Likes 1 Share

tiswell(m): 4:47am On Mar 18, 2022
yea,good to know they are aware of that sadblawdy sxploiters

1 Like 1 Share

FERNANDEZISBACK: 4:48am On Mar 18, 2022
Mynd44:
Putin used a lot of lies as excuse to invade Ukraine.
America used lies to attack Iraq
Now America is lying to plunge the whole of Europe into a war.

The heavy industries that produce arms must sha sell
Mynd44..what lie is America telling here again? cheesy
Was this not how everyone said America was lying when they released tip off about Russia's invasion? cry

118 Likes 7 Shares

tiswell(m): 4:50am On Mar 18, 2022
BarrElChapo:
May Putin and everything he holds dear die very painful deaths.
death isn't selective, so quit the noise already sad

34 Likes 2 Shares

Hotzone(m): 4:51am On Mar 18, 2022
He must be frustrated but God must keep confusing him

13 Likes 4 Shares

BarrElChapo(m): 4:53am On Mar 18, 2022
tiswell:
death isn't selective, so quit the noise already sad

You're either dumb or stupid cos I don't see the relationship between your comment and my comment, which makes me wonder why you infact quoted me conehead

17 Likes

adonainana: 4:55am On Mar 18, 2022
God knows the type of intelligence Putin received before deciding to invade a sovereign country with its own army, navy, Air Force

True no match for Russia as a superpower but you are the one going to fight them on their own land and on their own terrain and taking your own weapons with you

Even America after almost 20 years in Afghanistan couldn’t win and taliban still ended up taking the govt after almost 20 years

Billons of dollars lost and needless American soldiers lives lost

Even if Russian wanted to invade Nigeria imagine having to transport all its soldiers and equipment through Atlantic Ocean to fight as poor as Nigeria may be it can easily ambush them as they are landing and even Nigeria Air Force would still do something and that’s Nigeria oooo more less an European country

Feel so sorry for the Russians man just went to die for no reason

37 Likes 1 Share

sammy7410(m): 4:57am On Mar 18, 2022
Ok I see

13 Likes

Aufbauh(m): 4:57am On Mar 18, 2022
To think that some people still the irrational & needless invasion of Ukraine by Russia just because of previous Western insensitivity is nauseating.

58 Likes 5 Shares

TroubleMaker47(m): 5:00am On Mar 18, 2022
Mumu Putin

1 Like

blackgold2018(m): 5:04am On Mar 18, 2022
RedChair:


When Putin mentioned Nuke as a possibility, I knew that things weren't so right with Russia & her conventional forces.

Shortly into a war, you're already talking about going nuclear.
So where are all the military technology and gadgets Russia was always displaying?

Asking China for military weapons ? Even drones?? shocked

Oh please!
they are using mainly there old Soviet Union weapons in Ukraine.

Their modern weapons are on reserve for the main war.. that if NATO intervene

So they don’t want to unleash those weapons because it will be a great loss if there’s nothing left if NATO and US attacks

19 Likes 1 Share

Mikelarteta(m): 5:06am On Mar 18, 2022
He who the gods want to kill first make am to craze. If you cook for your village people dem go chop am finish but if your village people gather cook for only you, you no fit chop am finish ooooo.

19 Likes 1 Share

KaluwisxPRO: 5:08am On Mar 18, 2022
blackgold2018:
they are using mainly there old Soviet Union weapons in Ukraine.

Their modern weapons are on reserve for the main war.. that if NATO intervene

So they don’t want to unleash those weapons because it will be a great loss if there’s nothing left if NATO and US attacks

In your quack mind, you have more info than the US and NATO intelligence.

Russia does not have any piles of modern equipment, that is another lie from Putin and the Kremlin. They got nada

48 Likes 4 Shares

007Marvel(m): 5:08am On Mar 18, 2022
If the clown should use nuke on Ukraine then they should just nuke the Russia itself out of existence! I see no reason why he should resort to using nuke even if it was a fight between Russia and America or Russia and china! Weak and overhyped Country and it's military! If not for our stupid government with the way this thing is playing it it makes one wonder if Russia could really take on a real functional Nigeria with good military capabilities!

23 Likes 1 Share

dgitrader(m): 5:09am On Mar 18, 2022
Aufbauh:
To think that some people still the irrational & needless invasion of Ukraine by Russia just because of previous Western insensitivity is nauseating.


Never underestimate the magnitude of bigotry

16 Likes

RepoMan007: 5:10am On Mar 18, 2022
The low budget superpower dictator is truly frustrated.

1 Like

elfico(m): 5:15am On Mar 18, 2022
Seeing as they haven't used even a quarter of their military might, this news doesn't add up.
How will he use nuke when his country has been spared the fighting?

6 Likes 1 Share

tiswell(m): 5:15am On Mar 18, 2022
BarrElChapo:


You're either dumb or stupid cos I don't see the relationship between your comment and my comment, which makes me wonder why you infact quoted me conehead
Goan die!

3 Likes

Lexusgs430: 5:17am On Mar 18, 2022
We already predicted this, weeks ago ....... It's too late for putin, to turn back now........ cheesy

I just hope if he does, NATO would respond.........

8 Likes

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