Putin Downplays Nuclear War Threat in Pre-Election TV Appearance: A Unique Perspective on Global Security

President Vladimir ⁢V. Putin of Russia struck a ‌softer tone in an interview released on Wednesday, seemingly to boost his image as a stabilizing force ahead of the Russian presidential⁢ election ⁢this weekend. In the interview, Putin‍ described the‌ United States ‍as seeking to avoid conflict, while also warning that Russia was prepared to use nuclear weapons if ⁣its sovereignty was threatened. The comments appeared to be aimed at the Russian electorate, coming⁤ just ⁤before the election. Critics of ⁢Putin have increasingly taken aim at his portrayal of ‍bringing security and stability to Russia,⁣ particularly in the‌ wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Despite the fears of nuclear​ conflict, Putin sees Russia’s​ nuclear arsenal as an ‌effective deterrent‍ against Western support for ‌Ukraine. The interview⁢ attempted to address public ‌fears while keeping pressure on the West. For more information, ⁣you can visit www.nytimes.com