The Kremlin said that they "do not want to develop the topic" of nuclear escalation, and avoided answering the question of whether they would consider a counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the occupied territories that the Russian Federation is preparing to annex as an "attack on Russia."

 This was stated by the spokesman of the President of the Russian Federation Dmytro Peskov, quoted by "Interfax".

 "People who behave irresponsibly talk about nuclear escalation. We do not want to develop this topic. We call on everyone to behave responsibly," said Peskov.

 To the question of whether Russia will extend its nuclear doctrine to the occupied Ukrainian territories, which it is preparing to annex, and whether it will consider a counterattack on them as an "attack on territorial integrity" if it is going to declare them "its own", Peskov advised to re-read the document.

 "You quoted the doctrine completely incorrectly. The correct wording is very important there, I advise you to read it again carefully," Putin's press secretary replied.

 As you know, Russian President Vladimir Putin, after announcing partial mobilization in the Russian Federation, once again threatened Western countries with the use of nuclear weapons. Western leaders have condemned Putin's nuclear rhetoric, calling it a dangerous escalation and "gun rattling."

 According to Western media, the US believes that the probability of Russian President Vladimir Putin using tactical weapons in the war against Ukraine may be the highest since February 24, but it is still unlikely.

 Unofficially, it is known that Western capitals are thinking about response scenarios in case the Kremlin does go ahead with the use of nuclear weapons. The Biden administration said it had warned Russia of "catastrophic" consequences in the event of such a move.

 Ben Hodges, a retired general and former commander of the US Army in Europe, thinks this is unlikely, as it would be suicide for Vladimir Putin and his entourage.