Despite the increasingly aggressive statements from the illegitimate president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, such a scenario currently seems unlikely. At the same time, it is probable that Russians will escalate the number of sabotage activities in Europe to intensify pressure on the West due to its support for Kyiv, according to two senior officials in Washington.
Intelligence has concluded that nuclear escalation is unlikely to result from the U.S. granting Ukraine the use of long-range missiles against military targets on Russian territory. One source believes that ATACMS missiles "will not affect Russia's nuclear plans."
The launch by the occupiers last week of a intercontinental ballistic missile over Dnipro, which analysts believe was intended to warn Washington and its European allies, did not alter this conclusion. According to sources, these intelligence assessments have quelled discussions in the White House, where there were concerns about Putin's reaction and nuclear escalation.