Silent Hotline: Rising Tensions and the Nuclear Standoff between Russia and the US

A special hotline designed to ease crises between the Kremlin and the White House remains unused, Kremlin statements showed on Wednesday. This comes at a time when nuclear tensions are escalating to levels not seen since the height of the Cold War.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently lowered the threshold for nuclear strikes, in response to reports that Washington has authorized Ukraine’s use of US-made weapons for attacks deep into Russian territory. On the same day, Ukraine used US ATACMS missiles, signaling deeper Western involvement.

The hotlines were established to prevent miscommunication such as that during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. However, as tensions rise, Russian officials warn that missteps could lead to dire consequences, likening the current situation to historic nuclear standoffs.

(With input from agencies.)