Putin plays with fire in his new doctrine

Of late, Vladimir Putin has shifted Russia's nuclear doctrine to a more directly and openly retaliatory posture in response to any attack by Ukraine or any NATO country using longer-range US missiles.

- GOURI SANKAR NAG AND MANAS MUKUL BANDYOPADHYAY

It represents Russia's sense of reactive ire and fulmination coupled with a resolve of sabre-rattling that is conspicuous by its verbalisation of adopting a nuclear path.

This maelstrom, if unleashed, is enough to obliterate not only Ukraine but a large chunk of the European landmass, not to speak of incalculable disaster that might descend on millions of civilian populations, including Russians. Already, the war has caused severe dislocation if seen through the lens of the refugee crisis and dire humanitarian situation, as access to basic public amenities and social protection have been severely disrupted.

The American attitude, especially Joe Biden's decision to clear the use of missiles on Russian territory, is an open provocation to Putin and his cohorts who take pride in the fantasy of Russia's resurgence into a mighty "continent-spanning empire". Already, Biden's foreign policy has proved to be a flop show, with the US' humiliating retreat from Afghanistan. Similarly, its relationship with Iran has plummeted to the nadir. China and North Korea also figure among other prominent revisionists who are threatening the post-Cold War liberal world order.