Russia’s possible use of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a message to the West that it is has greater capabilities than previously displayed after a week of significant military operations and policy changes in both Ukraine and Russia. The West has for some time been concerned at a reciprocal Russian escalation in the war. This week, both US and British-French-made missiles have been fired into Russia by Ukraine, after US President Joe Biden gave Kyiv permission to use longer-range American missiles. In turn, President Vladimir Putin updated Russia’s nuclear doctrine — in a nuanced way, but still refined their policy to lower the threshold for use. Such an event would have elicited a very different reaction in Kyiv and the West.

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Persons: Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Dnipro