Putin Still a Rational Man Who Won't Use Nuclear Weapons, Top Experts Say

Despite the prevalence of opinions that Vladimir Putin has lost his mind, nuclear weapons experts continue to see the Russian president as a rational man who isn't willing yet to risk the severe consequences of using a nuclear weapon on Ukraine.

Putin is growing increasingly isolated as the assault on Ukraine nears its third week, and the Russian leader's decision to put his nuclear forces on high alert has raised fears about how far he might go. But 10 nuclear weapons experts Newsweek spoke to consider it unlikely that he would hit the nuclear button because he can achieve his goals in Ukraine without doing so. Also, such an extreme measure could hurt the president's ability to hold on to power if a challenger emerges who will use the war against him.

"I don't think that the Russian leadership and Putin are irrational actors," John Erath, senior policy director for the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said. "The use of a nuclear weapon would lead to the possibility of a response that would be disastrous for all."