Putin Prepares to Escalate Missile Strikes as Ukraine Talks Stall

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly preparing to intensify ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities as peace talks have reached a complete impasse, according to multiple sources close to the Kremlin. The escalation comes amid growing concern within Moscow’s inner circle that the conflict could eventually lead to the use of tactical nuclear weapons, though analysts and officials stress this remains an extreme last-resort scenario with no current preparations underway. The renewed discussion of nuclear options, first reported by Bloomberg, underscores the increasingly narrow space for diplomacy. Sources indicated that for Putin, the only outcome worse than continuing the war would be losing it, prompting a search for ways to change the conflict’s trajectory. Tactical nuclear weapons, which have lower-yield warheads and shorter ranges than strategic missiles, are designed for battlefield use but carry significant risks of radioactive contamination and a profound international response. Analysts widely assess the likelihood of a nuclear strike as extremely low.