Kremlin signals Vladimir Putin will claim landslide Russian election victory
GuardianMAR 2024
Russia 'Ready' for Nuclear War, Putin Says
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The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Ahead of Russia's sham elections where the autocrat is all but guaranteed to be re-elected, Putin is once again threatening the West with the use of nuclear weapons — demonstrating once again his gangster tactics in an effort to exert his influence.
Narrative B
Putin's specific remarks were in response to a direct question about whether Russia was "really" ready to use nuclear weapons if they were needed. He reiterated Russia's longstanding nuclear doctrine that states such weapons can only be used if the existence of the Russian state was under threat — something he said is unlikely.