Speaking of the Russian response to the threat of Tornado aircraft being sent to Ukraine from the UK, this just popped up:
The Russian embassy in London warned the United Kingdom against providing Ukraine with fighter jets, saying that such a move would have “military and political ramifications” for the whole world, Russian state media RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday.
"I would like to remind officials in London: such a scenario as the 'bloody harvest' of the next wave of escalation, as well as the resulting military and political ramifications for the European continent and the entire world, should weigh heavy on its conscience," the embassy said, according to the state media."
You could say this is Putin drawing a red line and saying to the west don't cross it. Putin has yet to stand behind action he has threatened previously by drawing vague red lines. Putin responds to one thing: power and the demonstration of it. He knows the risks of actually responding to an action taken by the west in Ukraine. He did nothing when HIMARS was introduced. HIs response to the introduction of western tanks has been muted, some believe because the last thing he wants is for NATO to ramp up against his currently badly depleted Russian army. Tactical nukes as a response? Analysts I've been reading on this threat over the last year, after Russian spokes persons first warned the west they could use them, believe that is the last thing Putin would do - escalate a conventional war to a nuclear exchange.
The Russian embassy in London warned the United Kingdom against providing Ukraine with fighter jets, saying that such a move would have “military and political ramifications” for the whole world, Russian state media RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday.
"I would like to remind officials in London: such a scenario as the 'bloody harvest' of the next wave of escalation, as well as the resulting military and political ramifications for the European continent and the entire world, should weigh heavy on its conscience," the embassy said, according to the state media."
You could say this is Putin drawing a red line and saying to the west don't cross it. Putin has yet to stand behind action he has threatened previously by drawing vague red lines. Putin responds to one thing: power and the demonstration of it. He knows the risks of actually responding to an action taken by the west in Ukraine. He did nothing when HIMARS was introduced. HIs response to the introduction of western tanks has been muted, some believe because the last thing he wants is for NATO to ramp up against his currently badly depleted Russian army. Tactical nukes as a response? Analysts I've been reading on this threat over the last year, after Russian spokes persons first warned the west they could use them, believe that is the last thing Putin would do - escalate a conventional war to a nuclear exchange.
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