Putin’s Hollow Nuclear Threat

source: gettyimage.com [{ "selector": ".pflaq-a", "duration": "250ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 10px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

It wasn’t long ago that the White House was reluctant to provide Ukraine source: gettyimage.com [{ "selector": ".rofor-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 10px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

But as the war marks the start of its second year on Friday source: gettyimage.com [{ "selector": ".nkzrp-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 10px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

America’s self-imposed limitations have eroded almost as steadily source: gettyimage.com [{ "selector": ".xsizq-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 10px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Prior to President Joe Biden, the Obama administration source: gettyimage.com [{ "selector": ".dkajk-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 10px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

even after Russia’s 2014 invasion and illegal annexation of swaths of Ukraine source: gettyimage.com [{ "selector": ".dszsp-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 10px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

limited aid to so-called “non-lethal” assistance, which amounted to military source: gettyimage.com [{ "selector": ".jdcjl-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 10px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The Trump administration green-lighted arms shipments source: gettyimage.com [{ "selector": ".klfum-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 10px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

only to later suggest it could withdraw that support if Ukraine’s president declined source: gettyimage.com [{ "selector": ".dreut-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 10px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Even in his first public remarks after Russia launched its all-out invasion a year ago source: gettyimage.com [{ "selector": ".qotdq-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 4px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]