Russian President Vladimir Putin is concerned by escalating French-led support for Ukraine. He wants to intimidate Europe and Germany, in particular, against providing Ukraine with its Taurus cruise missile. In turn, Russia’s soon-to-be re-coronated leader is again dangling the threat of nuclear war.

On Tuesday, Putin sat down for an interview with top state media propagandist Dmitry Kiselyov. Kiselyov has a penchant for theatrical nuclear strategies. Putin claimed it is “generally accepted” that Russia’s “nuclear triad is more modern than any other triad, and only we and the Americans have such a triad.” By triad, Putin is referring to Russia’s ability to launch nuclear weapons from the ground, from aircraft, and from nuclear ballistic missile submarines. Putin added that Russia’s nuclear forces are “more modern” and that “everyone knows this. All specialists know this.”