Kremlin confirms Russia-US crisis hotline is not in use as nuclear tensions rise

The Kremlin announced that the established hotline between Russia and the U.S. is not currently in use. This comes amid rising nuclear risks and heightened tensions over the Ukraine war, which are at their highest in decades. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike, responding to conventional attacks. This follows reports that the U.S. allowed Ukraine to use American-made weapons to target Russian territory. The hotline, created in 1963 to prevent misunderstandings during crises, is intended for direct communication between the two leaders. However, the Kremlin confirmed that it is not being utilized at this time.