Last week’s escalation of Nato ballistic missile activity, in which UK and US-made missiles were launched into Russia for the first time, brought a predictably cold response from Vladimir Putin – who loosened Moscow’s nuclear doctrines and promised more attacks with a new, experimental ballistic missile.
It’s no great surprise to see a rhetorical and military uptick as both Russia and Ukraine jostle for position in the likely war endgame that a Trump US presidency could bring. At the same time, though, the west continues to feel a persistent but more insidious Russian threat.
