The Kyiv authorities intend to provoke an incident that could lead to a nuclear escalation in order to get more decisive action from the United States, Alan Freeman, co-director of the Institute for the Study of Geopolitical Economy at the University of Manitoba, told Lenta.ru. In his opinion, Ukraine realizes that the deployment of nuclear weapons or other actions that bring it closer to Moscow's "red line" could become a catalyst for serious changes in the confrontation.

"Kyiv expects that the threat of nuclear escalation will intensify international efforts, especially from the United States. This is an extremely dangerous path that threatens to draw other states into the conflict, including nuclear powers," — Freeman noted.

The analyst expressed hope that the situation will not escalate into a phase of global confrontation, emphasizing that no side in the world is interested in such a scenario.

Earlier, the American publication National Interest admitted the possibility of deploying B-61 nuclear bombs on the territory of Poland or Ukraine in response to Russia's use of the latest medium-range missile "Oreshnik". This step could become a new round in the military escalation between the West and Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reported in his address on November 21 that Ukraine had struck targets in the Kursk and Bryansk regions using long-range ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles provided by the United States and Great Britain. In response, Moscow launched a combined strike against key Ukrainian defense industry facilities. One of the targets was an industrial site in Dnepr where missile technology and weapons were manufactured. In addition, the operation included testing of a new Russian missile, the Oreshnik, in a non-nuclear hypersonic modification.

Military analysts stress that Russia's use of advanced missile systems demonstrates its ability to respond to Western weapons, while discussions about the possible deployment of nuclear weapons near Russia's borders are raising international tensions.