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Currently, there are ongoing discussions in the West regarding the relaxation of the ban on the Armed Forces using long-range missiles, which were provided by the allies, for strikes against the Russian Federation. If Ukraine's partners do take this step, the Russian ruler may increase his threats, in particular, conduct the first nuclear tests in decades.
Reuters spoke to several experts to find out what steps Putin might take as tensions enter a dangerous new phase.
Nuclear tests
Ulrich Kuehn, a weapons expert at the Institute for Peace and Security Policy in Hamburg, believes that Putin may send some sort of nuclear signal -- such as a nuclear test -- to intimidate the West.
"This would be a dramatic escalation of the conflict. The question is what arrows Mr. Putin has left to fire, if the West continues to continue, apart from actual nuclear use?”, the expert notes.
Russia has not tested a nuclear weapon since 1990, so a nuclear explosion would mark the beginning of a more dangerous era. As Kuehn explains, Putin may feel that he is seen as weak because of Ukraine's increased support for NATO.
"Nuclear tests would be new. I would not rule it out, and it would be in line with the fact that Russia has violated a number of international security agreements that it has signed for decades over the past few years," the expert added.
Gerhard Mangott, a security expert at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, also believes that a "nuclear" reaction by the ruler of the Russian Federation is possible, although unlikely.
"The Russians can conduct a nuclear test. They made all the necessary preparations. They could detonate a tactical nuke somewhere in the east of the country to demonstrate what (they) mean when they say we're going to go nuclear eventually," Mangott says.
Former Kremlin adviser Serhii Markov suggests that Moscow may accuse Londo of direct armed aggression. After that, the British embassy in the Russian Federation will be closed and Russian diplomats will be recalled. According to Markov, the Russian Federation could then strike British drones and military aircraft near Russia, for example, over the Black Sea, and possibly launch missiles at F-16s from Storm Shadows at bases in Romania and Poland.
The publication adds that earlier Putin tried and failed to draw red lines for the West. However, warnings about long-range missiles can be a spur to action.
Attacks on Ukraine
In addition to the rattling of nuclear weapons or strikes on British assets, an increase in attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure is more likely.
According to experts, Kyiv will most likely bear the brunt of Russia's military response to the easing of restrictions on missiles.
Another option for Russia would be to increase "hybrid" actions, such as sabotage in Europe or interference in the election campaign in the United States, adds Kuehn. Mangott noted that the danger for the West is that it does not know where Putin's red lines really are.
"Allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons with the help of Western satellite imagery (and) Western military advisers is something that very much infringes on Russia's vital interests. So I think those (people) are wrong who say, 'Nothing will happen, let's just do it,'" he said.
Permission to use long-range missiles
The Times believes that strikes deep into Russia could change the war.
Bloomberg noted that the US asked Ukraine to describe in detail the plan for the use of long-range missiles.
The Guardian's sources claim that the US and Britain authorized the strikes on Russia, but are in no rush to announce it.
