I doubt Putin has a "fire now" button on his smartphone - there must be some sort of command chain which would lead to the launch of nuclear warheads.
Naively assuming this is the case, even if Putin wanted to do the unthinkable, could he actually make it happen or would sounder minds intervene.
A swift resolution to the conflict is more likely to lead to extreme reactions from Russia. If the conflict drags on as a conventional conflict until at least next year it is more likely that meaningful negotiations could emerge or Putin deposed.
For a settlement Russia would need something they could paint as a victory (or at least non-defeat). Ukraine who are reliant on western support would have little option but to concede the settlement (possibly having secured NATO and EU membership for Ukraine) if the west insisted.
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