Nuclear attack unlikely despite Putin's warnings, US intelligence says

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON — The US decision to allow Ukraine to fire American weapons deeper into Russia has not increased the risk of a nuclear attack, which is unlikely, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's increasingly bellicose statements, five sources familiar with US intelligence told Reuters. But Russia is likely to expand a campaign of sabotage against European targets to increase pressure on the West over its support for Kyiv, said two senior officials, a lawmaker and two congressional aides briefed on the matter. A series of intelligence assessments over the past seven months have concluded nuclear escalation was unlikely to result from a decision to loosen restrictions on Ukraine's use of US weapons. That view has not changed following President Joe Biden's changed US stance this month on weapons, said the sources, who were granted anonymity to speak freely about sensitive intelligence.  "The assessments were consistent: The ATACMs weren't going to change Russia's nuclear calculus," said one congressional aide briefed on the intelligence, referring to American missiles with a range of up to 306km.

Nuclear attack unlikely despite Putin's warnings, US intelligence says

Nuclear attack unlikely despite Putin's warnings, US intelligence says

Nuclear attack unlikely despite Putin's warnings, US intelligence says

Nuclear attack unlikely despite Putin's warnings, US intelligence says

Nuclear attack unlikely despite Putin's warnings, US intelligence says