And Russia today is a nation that is at the pointy end of the American nuclear spear. They're seeing the United States promulgate policies that have American military capabilities thrust up to the very borders of Russia, indeed crossing over into the borders of Russia, threatening Russia's strategic nuclear enterprise: Early warning radars, command and control facilities, even nuclear weapons depot and nuclear launch systems. We have facilitated - we be in the United States - an attack against Engels airbase where Russian strategic nuclear bombers are stationed. Under Russian doctrine this alone justifies a nuclear response. We've been tickling the Russian nuclear bear for a long time and only through the patience and wisdom of the Russian leadership have we avoided a nuclear war.

--- Scott Ritter, June 12 2024, in the press conference The Danger of Nuclear War Is Real, and Must Be Stopped

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