Putin plotting 'Cuban Missile Crisis 2' as Russia to surround US with nukes
EXCLUSIVE: Putin's threats to station nuclear weapons in areas where they can strike the US and NATO allies has come because of his failures in Ukraine, an expert claimed.
Vladimir Putin is threatening a new Cuban Missile Crisis with his threat to station weapons of mass destruction all over the world to antagonise the West, an expert has warned.
The Russian President said on Wednesday that Moscow could supply weapons to enemies of the West in retaliation to NATO allies allowing Ukraine to hit Russian territory with their weapons.
Speaking to journalists, Putin said: "If they consider it possible to deliver such weapons to the combat zone to launch strikes on our territory and create problems for us, why don't we have the right to supply weapons of the same type to some regions of the world where they can be used to launch strikes on sensitive facilities of the countries that do it to Russia?
"We will think about it."
Defence and security analyst Nicholas Drummond told Express.co.uk he believes Putin is threatening a situation similar to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 when the world came as close as it ever has to a nuclear conflict.
READ MORE: Putin's nuke warning as expert fears Russia ready to launch 'sabotage' attacks
He told Express.co.uk: "He is threatening a sort of Cuban Missile Crisis 2 where you have tactical cruise missiles, nuclear weapons, and weapons of mass destruction placed in places where we would not like them.
"A lot depends on what those weapons are and where they come from. Russia's stocks of tactical cruise missiles are vastly reduced.
"On the whole, I view it as an empty threat. Putin loves to bully and cajole for effect, and very rarely backs up his threats with real action because he is scared of what NATO would do.
"He is not going to start World War 3, and he knows NATO won't start World War 3."
Putin's sabre-rattling comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues.
Much of the fighting is centered around the Kharkiv region, where Russia is ultimately looking to seize the city.
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Mr Drummond believes Putin is under pressure in Moscow because his war has not reaped the rewards many expected it would back in February 2022.
He added: "Putin has been weakened by what is going on. His failure to achieve a decisive result in Ukraine in 2023 was very damaging for him within Russia.
"Now the mothers of soldiers who have died are very angry. People say Russia has this enormous capacity to sustain casualties.
"Ordinary Russians are much more informed now...Russia has had at least 200,000 deaths in two years and is approaching 500,000 casualties.
"That is unsustainable. It has weakened Putin at home and within his inner circle. They will be talking among themselves thinking 'what do we do about this?'
