If Putin were retarded enough to go nuclear, launching full volleys of nukes would destroy not just us, but pretty much ALL of Human civilization, including Russia! In my opinion, The Cold War MAD doctrine is dead and so is the mass nuclear volley concept. This is because every civilized nation knows that volley-fire would ensure the world’s demise. Also, no single nation wants to be the first to go nuclear because that makes them an immediate target. So if nuclear weapons have a future in warfare, then they will be used just for EMP’s and last ditch strikes (like Hiroshima and Nagasaki). Its more likely that the next big conventional war will stay conventional for some time, if not entirely. Putin and Russia’s pride may get hurt, but they aren’t suicidal, NATO wins every conventional scenario.
Putin and China may be imperialist, but this is NOT the Cold War.
I think your opinion lacks perspective. The entire strategic arsenal on each side is no longer 25,000 nukes, but 1550 strategic weapons.
And keep in mind we tested close to 1000 weapons before the nuclear test ban treaty, as did the Soviets. The world didn’t end.