In another sign of the deepening rift with the West, Mr Putin recently ordered tactical nuclear exercises involving troops stationed near Ukraine, in response to Western “threats” against Russia. Against a backdrop of tensions with Western powers over the conflict in Ukraine, the Russian president presided over the military parade on Red Square on 9 May to commemorate Victory Day, in which more than 9,000 servicemen took part, as well as armoured vehicles, missile launchers and aircraft. Can the west go on nuclear war with Russia ?

