• Media type: E-Book; Report
  • Title: Russia's catch-all nuclear rhetoric in its war against Ukraine: A balancing act between deterrence, dissuasion, and compellence strategies
  • Contributor: Horovitz, Liviu [Author]; Arndt, Anna Clara [Author]
  • imprint: Berlin: Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), 2022
  • Language: English
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.18449/2022C60
  • Keywords: invasion of Ukraine ; nuclear weapons ; United States ; Russia ; sanctions ; compellence ; nuclear deterrence ; military intervention ; dissuasion ; NATO
  • Origination:
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  • Description: A close reading of Russia's nuclear statements and actions during the first seven months of its war against Ukraine reveals a threefold approach. Moscow is walking a fine line between a well-crafted and successful deterrence strategy to prevent foreign military intervention; a more modest and rather unsuccessful attempt at dissuading foreign aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia; and incremental nuclear coercion against Kyiv that spurred Western deterrence messaging in response. This analysis reveals a careful Russian approach, suggesting that cost-benefit calculations are likely to continue to render nuclear escalation unlikely. However, nuclear use cannot be fully discounted, particularly if war-related developments severely imperil the survival of Russia's regime.
  • Access State: Open Access