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U.S. Intelligence Downplays Nuclear Escalation Risk Despite Putin's Threats and Ukraine's ATACMS Use

Nov 28, 2024, 03:16 AM

U.S. intelligence officials have assessed that the risk of nuclear escalation remains low despite Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory using American-supplied ATACMS missiles, according to Reuters. The U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to fire these long-range missiles deeper into Russia has not increased the likelihood of a nuclear attack, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's increasingly bellicose statements. Intelligence sources familiar with the matter indicate that while Russia might expand its sabotage campaign against Western countries, the threat of nuclear retaliation is considered minimal. This assessment, based on insights from five sources, comes after months of debate over the use of ATACMS missiles, concluding that fears of nuclear escalation were exaggerated.