Putin and Lavrov have already calculated that desperation will set in.
They publicly announced last week they have changed their nuclear doctrine and they will assume that any such attack from Ukraine is really an attack from the USA.
Given that the US has no functional President at this moment, a neutered Congress, and is catatonic with woke activism, the risk of WWIII is very high.
The nuclear doctrine did not just change last week. It is now not MAD, it is launch on anticipation. Has been for some time now.
But your correct in the respect that they would, lay the catastrophe at the USAs feet. The old “Who did that?” “We had nothing to do with it!” Won’t work.
The point I make is that the “advisors” within this administration are mentally deranged enough to think these things are actually viable.
In short..as above, the nuclear doctrine is now preemptive. Has been for a while. Like you mentioned. The Russians have stated that they may strike first if they even suspect they will be hit.
That is where we are at this point.
The new policy endorses preemptively using nuclear weapons when the threat warrants it. The previous policy was one of only retaliating with nukes. You and I noticed, the rest of America wants more updates on what Taylor Swift ticket prices are.