SECURITY: Putin-Use Of Nukes Could Speed Up Attainment Of Russian Goals

Wires carrying comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine. On peace talks, Putin says that "We have to get agreements that would be in our interests." Claims that there is the possibility for talks, "but we have to proceed from today's realities", and that "We are gradually pushing out the enemy in Ukraine, I'm sure all the plans will be implemented." Says that the "use of a nuclear weapon could speed up the attainment of Russia's goals, but the health of Russian soldiers on the frontline is more important."

• Regarding nuclear deterrence, Putin claims "We have never started nuclear rhetoric...We are not rattling with nuclear weapons", but then adds "I don't rule out changes to our nuclear doctrine...We can hold nuclear tests, but there is no need for it now." Putin says that "Everyone should understand that Russia and the US, unlike Europe, have early warning systems," and that "we have more nuclear weapons than those in Europe". 
• During the course of the war to date, escalations in nuclear rhetoric from senior Russian officals have often come at times of difficulty, retreat, or setbacks for the Russian military or the broader Russian cause. 
• Recent announcements from the US and other Ukrainian allies about allowing Kyiv to use western-made weapons to strike the Russian Federation are believed to have caused notable concern in the Kremlin that the damaging series of Ukrainian strikes on refineries and other key infrastructure could ramp up in frequency and impact.