Quote:Russia conducted its first test of the Sarmat, an intercontinental ballistic missile that carries a heavy nuclear payload, on April 20. Vladimir Putin and his advisers have issued nuclear warnings throughout the war in Ukraine, threatening the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization with attack if they escalate their involvement. Moscow recently threatened Sweden and Finland with a pre-emptive strike if they join NATO.

The reality is that unless the U.S. prepares to win a nuclear war, it risks losing one. Robert C. O’Brien, a former White House national security adviser, proposed a series of conventional responses, which are necessary but not sufficient to deter Russian nuclear escalation. Developing a coherent American strategy requires understanding why Russia threatens to use nuclear weapons and how the U.S. can recalibrate its strategic logic for a nuclear environment.

A nuclear war should never be fought. But the Kremlin seems willing to fight one, at least a limited one. If the U.S. demonstrates it is unwilling to do so, the chance that the Kremlin will use nuclear weapons becomes dangerously real.

Quote:Pope Francis: 'I am ready to meet Putin in Moscow'

Wars to test weapons

The Pope's comments also reflected on the reasons for war and on the "trade" in arms, which for him remains a "scandal" opposed by few people.

Pope Francis spoke of "an anger facilitated" perhaps, by "NATO's barking at Russia's door" that has led the Kremlin to "react badly and unleash the conflict".

“I don't know how to answer - I'm too far away - the question of whether it is right to supply the Ukrainians," he reasoned. "The clear thing is that weapons are being tested there. The Russians now know that tanks are of little use and are thinking of other things. This is why wars are waged: to test the weapons we have produced. Few people are fighting this trade, but more should be done."

No trip to Kyiv is planned at the moment, but first, the Pope would prefer to visit Moscow.

Reviewing the efforts made or to be made to stop the escalation of violence, the Pope clarified: "I am not going to Kyiv for now; I feel that I must not go. First I must go to Moscow. First I must meet Putin. But I am also a priest, what can I do? I do what I can. If Putin would only open the door...".

Again the Pope looked to Moscow for the possibility of working together with Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church.