The incoming Biden administration most just lifted a ban on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to attack targets inside Russia. Out of concern that Russia might use nuclear weapons, the White House had put a stop to the issue and had been observed by Washington’s friends.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, responded by signing into rules changes to Russia’s nuclear theory, lowering the level for the use of nuclear arms. Russia next struck Ukraine with an obviously new, nuclear-capable intermediate-range weapon, the Oreshnik. Putin finally made the announcement that Russia had the right to strike the military deployments of the nations that permit Ukraine to strike Russia with their weapons, or, to put it another way, the US and UK.
Around the world, concern was raised by Putin’s nuclear risks and his use of the Oreshnik weapon. In the UK, journalists questioned Putin’s readiness to “push for the atomic option” and made reference to World War Three.
In gloating Soviet media reports, gloating stories about how Putin’s challenges were amplified in details were covered in UK and US information. The number of the 60 Minutes system on the Russia 1 tv channel, who reported a report in the Guardian that suggested Putin was instantly threatening London and Washington, said,” they understand us properly.
Since Russia started the war against Ukraine in February 2022, Russia’s involvement in British and US press coverage shows something crucial about its attitude toward the east.
The Kremlin has made it increasingly obvious that it views Russia as the primary philosophical threat. This is not just because the West has allowed Ukraine to continue fighting on the front lines, or because significant American sanctions have put Russia in a precarious position of dependence on China.
One of the main ideological pillars of Putin’s president is now opposition to the worldwide influence of Western states, especially the US, and the multiply of liberal values.
However, Russia does not have the resources or desire to engage in primary military hostility with NATO. That’s a fight that it would gain if it were normal, while all – including Russia – may lose it if it went nuclear.
The Kremlin also rely on other means to stifle support for Ukraine, tamp down American nations, and fract Western cultures. These include intervention in local politics of its rivals and the damage of important infrastructure.
Culture of fear
The attempt to manipulate public opinion, mainly by creating a environment of fear, is an important tool. The Kremlin would benefit greatly from safely shaping the home environment in which Western governments decide their positions on Ukraine and Russia.
This is a variation of an ancient Soviet-era military practice: spontaneous control. An player can use spontaneous control to influence the choices the Kremlin wants them to make by giving specific information away.
This is what we can tell right then. The transfer of Russia’s new nuclear philosophy, Putin’s nuclear risks, and the synthesis of American media concern is intended to cause UK and other European decision-makers to reevaluate support for Ukraine because of public concerns. This has been obvious right away since the start of the conflict.
However, it dramatically increased once the Biden administration made the decision to allow long-range missile attacks on Russia.
The Russian government has attempted to impose pressure on Western governments by frightening citizens since the start of the war. The Kremlin warned Russia of a wintertime shutdown of its gas pipeline to western Europe in October 2022.
The goal was to persuade the governments of Europe to alter their positions on sanctions and Ukraine. Russia has successfully used this tactic for decades to put pressure on its less developed post-Soviet neighbors. However, it turned out against itself when many nations that had previously switched to other energy sources after purchasing gas from Russia.
Of course, using public concern about Russian threats to alter Western policy to undermine the Kremlin’s credibility is unsuccessful if the threats are neutralized or ignored.
Despite the alarmism, Putin has yet to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine or elsewhere, and the EU and other Western European nations have not experienced catastrophic energy failures. Russia’s relationship to both its adversaries and the rest of the world is weaker as a result. Putin is in a dangerous position for himself.
This recent round of threats and Russia’s amplification of Western media coverage are a result of the Biden administration’s decision to finally call Putin’s nuclear bluff. They show that nuclear weapons use, as well as other significant responses, are not as likely as they once were.
However, as Trump resigns as president, Russian attempts to influence the UK and other European countries through public opinion manipulation, sabotage, and other means may grow even though it is still highly unlikely that Russia will use nuclear weapons. A Russia-friendly White House will make the whole world less secure.
Ruth Deyermond is senior lecturer in post-Soviet security, King’s College London
This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.