The thing Putin fears most, more than death itself, is that Russians and history will view him as having been outsmarted and outmaneuvered. Using nuclear weapons would be like turning over the chessboard in a rage to avoid a certain defeat.
My God, this is so very dangerous.
Stop With The Telepathy.
No one knows what anyone thinks or plans or wants or fears.
This is all imagination.
Which he might do, feeling backed into a corner...just let the missiles fly...assuming his co-rulers and military generals will let him issue such orders.