The belief is now that Russia has full nuclear capability. This isn’t just suggested by its recent announcement of new technologies it’s put into submarines and missiles, but indicative also of material derived from research into the Russian state.
The fact is, Russia is a stable threat to us all. If Putin speaks, it’s likely that his words will now be listened to as a lot more literal than before. If he’s taken as a joke, his nuclear deterrent is ready to repel any further humiliation.
The response of nations across the world must be different if the Russian state makes a move. It’s not a threat it can use to make Ukraine surrender, for instance, but it’s something to reckon with.