Wed Nov 27 03:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Putin Issues Nuclear Threat Amid Escalating Ukraine War
**MOSCOW** – Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated tensions with the West on Thursday, issuing a stark warning that the United States risks nuclear war by continuing its substantial military aid to Ukraine. Putin’s announcement follows recent battlefield setbacks for Russia in Ukraine and comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to office.
While Russia has made gains in Ukraine, Putin appears increasingly frustrated by the West’s unwavering support for Kyiv. He announced the deployment of a new intermediate-range missile with nuclear capabilities, framing the move as a necessary response to Western aggression. Putin further declared on Friday that Russia will continue using and begin mass production of this new missile system.
Analysts suggest Putin’s aggressive rhetoric serves to pressure the West, particularly the United States, into curbing its aid to Ukraine. While a potential peace deal brokered by a returning President Trump looms two months hence, Kremlin watchers believe Putin aims to convey the chilling message that further Western support for Ukraine will bring the world closer to nuclear conflict. The situation marks the most perilous moment in US-Russia relations in decades.
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