[Skybird]

Tactical nukes used by Russia are possible, i say that since months. Strategic nukes I do not waste a thought on, hte principle of mutual assured destruction still applies and an ICBM going off in Ukraine inevitably will bring the West actively into the war., If Ukraine goes after the Crimea peninsula, I almost expect the sue of tactical nukes by Russia if they cannot stop them conventionally. Which they probably couldn't, if Ukraine is so confident to indeed attack the Crimea on the ground to retake it from the occupiers.

Russia can only lose by using tactical nukes, and Ukraine will not be impressed: they already have seen their cities obliterated by conventional means, a small nuke cannot shock them much anymore. Militarily, the relevance of tactical nukes is very limited, if they want to seea military effect, they would need to use not one, but many, and this inevitably will trigger a very robust NATO reaction - when the fallout clouds reach Europe at the latest. Russia will be reached by fallout as well, btw.

Russia cannot win a war with NATO, or the US alone, after the past 7 months we can base on that assumption, I think. Stupid European politicians however could lose a war, however. By cowardice and appeasement and allowing to get intimidated by Putin's threats. Putin understands just one thing: immer auf die Fresse. I preach this since years; Putins only reaction scheme to being confronted has always been one and the same: he escalates. Escalates. Escalates. Escalates. He is a macho and a psychopath, evertyhing else would be a sign of weakness, and he does not allow himself to be perceived as weak. By now he also has no other choice indeed anymore. If he falls back, his own puppets will get rid of him.

He is done, any way. Only question is how many more lives he pulls down along with him and how much more destruction Ukraine will suffer.