Russia's dangerous nuclear consensus

[Celerity]

The war in Ukraine has raised the spectre not only of Russia’s disintegration but also of a catastrophic nuclear confrontation.

https://www.socialeurope.eu/russias-dangerous-nuclear-consensus


Speaking to a diminished international audience at the annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum this month, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, confirmed his willingness to resort to nuclear weapons (Kremlin)

The weekend rebellion by the Wagner Group chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has shone a harsh spotlight on the apparently fragile state of the regime of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. While Prigozhin soon agreed to stand down, and ordered his mercenary army to halt its advance on Moscow, the warlord-led uprising highlights, yet again, the imminent and existential risks that an aggressive and unstable nuclear power poses to the world.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began last year—and especially since it became clear that Putin would not secure the quick victory he apparently expected—a nightmare scenario has loomed. Putin could be driven from power, leaving behind a fragmented Russia where various ‘warlords’ compete for power—including control of the world’s largest nuclear arsenal.

When Prigozhin accused Russia’s military of attacking Wagner Group encampments, seized control of Russia’s Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and ordered his mercenaries to march on Moscow, this scenario appeared likely. Although this particular coup did not materialise, there is no guarantee that another will not follow, especially in light of the support Prigozhin seems to enjoy among some segments of Russia’s population.

Imminent risk

But even if Putin remains in the Kremlin, Russian nuclear weapons pose an imminent risk. After all, it is the threat of nuclear escalation that has prevented the west from intervening militarily to defend Ukraine and forced the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to calibrate carefully the timing and nature of military support for Ukrainian fighters.

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[Walleye]

1. Fascists are such sore losers

[Red Mountain]

2. Russian society seems to be infected with the same thing the MAGAloons have

some sort of nihilistic burn it all down hopelessness that they somehow think will bring back their glory days.

It's hard to fight.

[Lovie777]

3. Well Putin don't care about Mother/Father Russia.......................

and Lukashenko doesn't care about Belarus.

Where will the elites run to.