Op-Ed: Is the doomsday clock ticking?

When Russian President Vladimir Putin first threatened the possibility of nuclear warfare months after its invasion of Ukraine, it brought a shudder to many and raised panic levels all over the world. NATO prepared to go on the offensive if needed, ready to defend its members and allies.

Time passed since his original threat without incident, and the possibility of mass destruction faded temporarily from minds. However, in early October, Putin once again threatened the possibility of nuclear warfare, declaring that he is not afraid to use nuclear weapons against the West in order to defend Russia.

The last time nuclear warfare commenced was during World War II, in which the United States dropped two hydrogen bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. U.S. President Joe Biden recently warned that “the world is now closer to armageddon than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis.”

The European Union believes this to be a bluff and a very dangerous gamble, urging Putin to stand down from his threats, yet making sure the population stays calm. Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte said, “It is all part of the [nuclear weapon] rhetoric we know. I would advise [us] to remain calm.”

The question remains whether Putin’s threats should be taken seriously. Russia does have the nuclear arsenal to pose a major threat to the world. Ever since World War II, it has become a leading owner of nuclear warheads right alongside the United States.

So, will Russia act on its threat to nuclear war? If so, what will be the cause?” A factor that has to be considered is how far NATO and Western intervention will go. Russia is already in the process of annexing certain parts of Ukraine. If both parties prevent this annexation as stealthy and as soon as possible, the chance of nuclear warfare should dwindle.

Another factor we have to consider is what exactly Putin meant by his threats. He stated he would deploy nuclear weapons “to defend Russia.” It is not clear what defending Russia implies. He could be talking about the mainland itself and the threat fo a Western invasion of Russia. However, another possibility is that he's referring to the sections of Ukraine he is planning on annexing. Therefore, any Western intervention of Ukraine could instigate a nuclear attack.

Lastly, the consequences of using nuclear weapons can't be ignored. It would be an unfortunate scenario indeed if Putin aimed his missiles at one of the many NATO countries, as the purpose of NATO is to form an alliance with other countries. Therefore, if one NATO country is attacked, the whole organization would fight back. A third possible world war would be in the cards. This is the nuclear armageddon President Biden was speaking of. Millions of innocent lives would be lost, and the environment would be subjected to toxic radiation. No one wins in this scenario.

Of course, it is entirely possible, as many believe, that Putin is only bluffing. One can only hope. But one thing is for sure: there is no happily-ever-after in the world we currently live in. Not a single country can rest until Russia is removed from Ukraine. The doomsday clock is ticking, but who knows if or when it will ever strike midnight.