With nuclear blackmail, the Russian Federation is trying to appease its population and intimidate the Western audience.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), President Putin and Defense Minister Shoigu’s comments about increased nuclear readiness are most likely aimed at appeasing domestic nationalist audiences and intimidating Western ones. They are no indicators of Russia’s increasing willingness to use nuclear weapons. Experts also noted that Putin and Shoigu will continue to support the Kremlin’s information operation aimed at forcing the West to push Ukraine into negotiations on Russia’s terms. Thus, Shoigu stated that the Kremlin is always open to conducting constructive, peaceful negotiations. Furthermore, Putin and Shoigu likely reaffirmed Russia’s best-case goals when Ukrainian officials discussed the possibility of resuming a large-scale Russian offensive in the winter of 2023, while some in the West are calling for Ukraine to open talks with Moscow. In this way, the Russian Federation puts additional pressure on Ukraine to force it to negotiate on Russian terms.