Russia's Nuclear Forces on High Alert as West Intensifies Sanctions

Vladimir Putin's decision to put Russia's nuclear forces on high alert has heightened tensions as the West imposes tougher sanctions on Moscow for its military offensive in Ukraine. The move comes after the US and its allies decided to eject a group of Russian lenders from the Swift messaging system, which is crucial for global payments. Ukrainian forces continue to resist Russian assaults on the capital Kyiv and second city Kharkiv, while Russian troops have made significant gains on the southern coast.

Key Takeaways:

• Russia's nuclear forces have been put on high alert by President Putin in response to Western sanctions, which include the ejection of Russian lenders from the Swift messaging system.
• The sanctions are some of the toughest measures ever taken against a G20 economy, with the US and its allies condemning Putin's move as "totally unacceptable".
• Ukrainian forces have continued to resist Russian assaults on Kyiv and Kharkiv, with Western intelligence officials being surprised by the level of resistance.
• Russia has deployed an estimated 150,000 troops, with two-thirds of combat forces on the border before the invasion.
• Russian President Putin has accused Western countries of making aggressive statements about Russia, and has reserved the right to use nuclear weapons if the "very existence of the state is threatened".
• Putin's order does not mean he is ordering preparations for a nuclear strike, but is consistent with a doctrine published in 2020 under which Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to send a delegation to peace talks with Russia "without preconditions", while Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has stated that the country will not give in to pressure from Russia.
• Western leaders, including Joe Biden and Jens Stoltenberg, have condemned Putin's actions, with Stoltenberg stating that Putin's statement "added to the very aggressive rhetoric" seen from Russia.

Statistics:

• 150,000: estimated number of Russian troops deployed
• 2/3: proportion of combat forces deployed on the border before the invasion
• 1945: year of Europe's last military offensive
• 2%: proposed increase in Germany's military spending as a percentage of GDP
• 2020: year in which Russia published a doctrine reserving the right to use nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances

Sources:

• "The Financial Times"
• Reuters
• CNN
• The Guardian
• Associated Press