Putin Shows He Can Antagonize the U.S. 

“When the United States and its Western allies declared that Ukraine could strike Russian territory with their weapons, President Vladimir Putin began ratcheting up the threats,” the New York Times reports.

“He triggered drills in Russia to practice the use of tactical nuclear weapons. He said Moscow would consider changing the doctrine that outlines when it would use its nuclear arsenal. He reminded unnamed NATO countries in Europe of their small territories and dense populations, implying they could be easily obliterated.”

“And this week, the Russian leader took his threats to another corner of the globe, reviving a Cold War-era mutual defense pact with North Korea and warning that he may arm Kim Jong-un in response to the loosened restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western arms.”