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

The Kremlin announced that a special hotline between Russia and the U.S. is not currently in use, amid rising nuclear risks and tensions. This hotline was established in 1963 to prevent misunderstandings during crises. Russian President Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike in response to conventional attacks. This follows Ukraine's use of U.S.-made ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory, which Moscow views as an escalation by the West. Russian officials compare the current crisis to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, asserting that the West's actions could lead to direct conflict. The Kremlin maintains that its nuclear doctrine serves as a deterrent against potential attacks.