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This is OnPoint. I'm Megna Chakrabardi.

Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine February of last year,

Russian officials have repeatedly issued one particularly chilling warning to NATO

and the nations that have been aiding Ukraine.

They have said Russia's use of nuclear weapons is not off the table.

Pundits on Russian TV talk up using tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield

or strategic nuclear weapons against the U.S. or Britain, Ukraine's biggest suppliers of weaponry.

And in a speech last September, Russian President Vladimir Putin said,

I am not bluffing.

Our country, too, has different weapons of destruction.

In some cases, they are more modern than those of NATO.

If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, then to defend Russia

and our people, we shall, of course, use all means at our disposal.

I am not bluffing.

But by and large, U.S. national security officials have said,

it's probably just that, a bluff.

...