Mobilization of reservists and nuclear rhetoric raise stakes in Ukraine conflict as global leaders respond

Vladimir Putin’s latest speech, which included explicit nuclear threats and the mobilization of reservists, has sent shockwaves through the international community. The Russian president warned that “all means at our disposal” would be used to protect Russia’s territorial integrity, declaring, “It’s not a bluff.”

Global leaders, including Joe Biden and Liz Truss, condemned Putin’s rhetoric at the United Nations General Assembly. Truss dismissed his statements as “bogus claims” aimed at justifying Russia’s military failures in Ukraine.

Beyond the nuclear threats, Putin hinted at plans to annex occupied Ukrainian territories and announced the conscription of hundreds of thousands of reservists—a move that could significantly impact the dynamics of the ongoing conflict.

Experts caution against dismissing these threats entirely, while analyzing the Kremlin’s motives and potential outcomes. As tensions escalate, the world watches closely to gauge how Western powers will respond and how these developments might reshape the war in Ukraine.