The Briefing Room

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David Aaronovitch presents in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.

David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.

David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts and insiders present in-depth explainers on big issues in the news

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The Briefing Room: Could Vladimir Putin use nuclear weapons?

20/10/2022

Could Vladimir Putin use nuclear weapons?

BBC Radio 4 - The Briefing Room, Could Vladimir Putin use nuclear weapons?

What are the chances of the Russian leader turning the war in Ukraine nuclear?

What are the chances of the Russian leader turning the war in Ukraine nuclear? And how would the western powers respond?

The Russians are on the back foot in the war in Ukraine and have just evacuated the occupied Ukrainian city of Kherson.  The setbacks for Moscow have led to increasing concern in western capitals about the prospect of President Vladimir Putin using a nuclear weapon. 

But what are the real chances of Russia moving from nuclear threats to nuclear action.  And how might the NATO powers respond?

Joining David Aaronovitch in The Briefing Room are:
Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College, London.
Matthew Kroenig, Professor of Government at Georgetown University and Acting Director, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council
Patricia Lewis, Director of the International Security Programme at Chatham House.

Producers: Kirsteen Knight, Daniel Gordon and Simon Watts
Editor: Penny Murphy
Sound engineer: Neil Churchill
Production co-ordinator: Siobhan Reed and Helena Warwick-Cross

Image: Russian President Vladimir Putin.     Credit: Mikhail Svetlov / Getty Images

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