Russia under Vladimir Putin is stepping up its power projection by reshaping its nuclear-and-geopolitical messaging towards the West. According to the IndiaTV explainer, this shift is rooted in recent declarations about nuclear readiness, changes to deterrence doctrine, and outward signalling of resolve.

At the heart of the narrative: Russia insists that any Western advance—whether through weapons, alliances or sanctions—could trigger expanded scenarios for nuclear escalation. This isn’t idle rhetoric; it reflects Moscow’s broader sense of strategic containment and the desire to reset power balances with the West.

• Russia is emphasizing nuclear tilt not merely as a strategic deterrent but as a central diplomatic tool.
• The discourse aligns with Moscow’s desire to weaken Western unified fronts (e.g., NATO + U.S. + EU) by inserting nuclear uncertainty.
• For the West, the challenge is how to respond without normalising or escalating the threat—whether through arms control, deeper engagement with Ukraine, or bolstered conventional deterrence.