NATO could intervene in the war in Ukraine if Russia uses tactical nuclear weapons. This version of events was ruled out by Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, speaking on the air of the NBC television channel.

At the same time, Rau stressed, the alliance should not use nuclear weapons in response. “NATO must respond in a conventional way, but its response must be destructive,” the Polish minister believes.

The mobilization announced in Russia demonstrates Putin’s obvious loss in Ukraine, Rau is sure. Sending in “poorly trained, ill-equipped” conscripts is unlikely to change the course of the war, he said.

Moreover, the minister is confident that conscription can undermine popular support for the war. “I believe that this will be a long process, but its direction has already been determined,” Rau said.

After the largest defeat of Russian troops near Kharkov in September, Putin decided to annex the Kherson, Zaporozhye, Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine and, declaring them “Russian”, began to threaten Kyiv with nuclear weapons to stop the advance of Ukrainian troops. Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev also announced the “right” of Russia to a nuclear strike on Ukraine.

The intelligence agencies of the United States and its allies began to closely monitor Russia’s nuclear arsenal after Putin’s threats. Washington warned Moscow about the “catastrophic” consequences of the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. But the US has not publicly disclosed what the response will be to Putin’s red line crossing, who is losing the war he started.