Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine and make a push for Kyiv in February 2022 caused some international observers to speculate about his mental health. Russia’s defiance of international laws and sovereign borders in Europe provoked a strong reaction from the West, helping to unify Western nations. On the other hand, some have asked that if Putin was so clearly willing to defy these laws and norms regardless of the consequences, then why didn’t he just use nuclear weapons?
Watch the above video as Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan answers that question.
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The following is an excerpt from Peter’s June 17 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:
For years I’ve warned that a war between Russia and Ukraine was inevitable, but why didn’t Putin just play the nuke card? As an add-on, we’ll also be touching on some new Russian alliances that could rub the U.S. the wrong way.
The Russians are no strangers to wars and territorial expansions, so despite having nukes, they still prefer their tried-and-true method of occupation. This may seem foolish given their nuclear capabilities, but the Russian goal is to establish a buffer they control easily, not a zone they have to patrol wearing hazmat gear.
The Ukraine war has also brought up conversations of Russian alliances with some unsavory characters, i.e. North Korea, Iran, and China. I’m really not too worried about these alliances either. The logistics alone make them all dealbreakers.
The conversation about the American-led global order being disrupted is less about Russia’s moves and more about how the Americans decide to proceed with their global strategies.