Putin Uses Nuclear Blackmail to Pressure the US: The Goal is Concessions on Ukraine

On September 22, Putin stated that the implementation of the US initiative regarding the New START Treaty on strategic offensive arms and adherence to 'all efforts to normalize bilateral relations' would create conditions for a 'meaningful strategic dialogue' with Washington.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is using arms control negotiations as a tool of blackmail to force the US administration to make concessions regarding the war in Ukraine. This was reported by 'Glavkom' citing analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

ISW analysts note that the Kremlin is not seeking genuine negotiations but is using the arms control issue for political pressure. This approach aims to secure concessions regarding Ukraine and to divert attention from its own role in the stagnation of peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.

Russia's Nuclear Arsenal and Pressure on the West

It should be noted that Russia has one of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world – over 5,977 warheads. The war against Ukraine has not weakened Russia's nuclear forces, as their modernization remains a priority for the Kremlin. This opinion was expressed by Major General Andrew Jebara, Deputy Chief of Staff of the US Air Force for Nuclear Integration, in an interview with the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

According to Jebara, Russia continues to allocate funds for nuclear deterrence, prioritizing this issue over matters related to the war in Ukraine. He also pointed out the rapid expansion of China's nuclear arsenal. The Major General noted that in the past two years, Beijing has increased its forces to the equivalent of the entire nuclear arsenal of the United Kingdom.

Negotiations on arms control between Russia and the US are being used by Putin to pressure the American administration in order to gain certain concessions regarding the situation in Ukraine and to distract attention from its own role in the conflict in the East. Russia continues to actively modernize its nuclear arsenal, investing significant funds in nuclear deterrence and enhancing military power, while China is also rapidly building up its nuclear forces, which is a focus of attention for Western countries.