Could Putin really start a nuclear war? | The Economist

After invading Ukraine nearly a week ago, Putin has now ordered Russia’s nuclear forces to be on high alert. Shashank Joshi, The Economist’s defence editor, answers questions on whether the war in Ukraine could escalate into a nuclear conflict. 00:00 - Putin has raised the stakes 00:40 - Is Putin threatening nuclear force? 01:23 - What does Putin hope to achieve? 02:07 - How has the West responded so far? 03:11 - Are Putin’s threats posturing or a real danger? 04:15 - What does NATO need to do now? 05:18 - Could Putin really start a nuclear war? Read our coverage of the war in Ukraine: