Could Putin pull the trigger? This week marked an escalation in Russian president Vladimir Putin’s nuclear sabre-rattling, as he issued a new “warning” to the West. But some think Moscow’s red lines are losing their colour.
Russia raises the nuclear stakes
Doomsday?: President Putin imagined as Dr Strangelove by our illustrator (above) in a reference to the 1964 Cold War comedy film in which an American general goes crazy and nukes Moscow. Glossary
Soviet Union - Officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991.
Brinkmanship - Following a risky policy to the edge of safety and stopping just before something really bad happens.
Vladimir Putin - Russia’s ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.
Doctrine - A set of beliefs, especially political or religious ones.
Kursk - A city in western Russia. In 2024, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise assault and took over parts of the region, as part of the Russia-Ukraine war which began in 2022.
Expansionist - Want to expand a country's borders to cover more area.