Why did Pootin threaten the whole world with nuclear weapons, but then stopped doing so?

I think they weren't ever going to use them because they know they would get nuked in turn. Once it became clear the bluff wasn't working, makes you look weak to use a threat and not follow through.
- Plus many of them are so poorly maintained they likely wouldn't launch anyway. Missiles have a lot of upkeep
  
  While this may well be true, Russia has so many nukes and nukes are themselves so destructive that it's kinda cold comfort even if 90% of them fail
  
  Comrade what do with many ICBM no longer function?
  I have a best solution we take derelict submarine insert many warhead call it Poseidon. Is glorious Soviet superweapon Dah.
- Yep. Mutually Assured Destruction.
  Some countries will use the threat of nuclear war to get what they want. But what they want often involves still being alive afterwards. Putin, like the rest of the leaders of countries with nuclear arms, knows that a nuclear strike demands a nuclear response. There is no other option and unfortunately the whole world suffers as a result.
  
  Although I don't think pootin cares about his people and wont care if they get killed.
  He may care about himself but he is a old man now with nothing left.

My understanding is China reminded them of their policies on nuclear escalation.
- Care to remind us?

The threat wasn't to attack. It was more of a warning, saying that if NATO was to step onto Russian soil he would use them.
Nuclear weapons are basically a defensive weapon. You never aim to use them but you have them as a deterrent. No country wants to mess with it or test whether a nuclear nation would use it
To do so is suicide, both to call their bluff or to use the weapons. So you get into a state where militarily no one can do anything (except wage a war in a country that doesn't have nuclear weapons).
That's kinda the purpose of nuclear weaponry. To use then it's basically game over for everyone everywhere.
- you get into a state where militarily no one can do anything (except wage a war in a country that doesn't have nuclear weapons)
  ok, I got it. Give every country nuclear weapons and then there is nowhere to wage war.
  
  The proviso of this is that all the countries involved are led by sane, (reasonably) rational leaders. It also breaks down if they get into the hands of non-governmental forces. If they get into the hands of someone willing to act irrationality, a lot of people will be very screwed.
  Interestingly, Ukraine was once a nuclear power. They had a significant chunk of the USSR's arsenal. They decommissioned them, due to safety concerns. Part of that deal was protection from invasion (both from Russia and NATO). I suspect they now regret giving up their nukes.
  
  Well military yes. You still have economic and cyber wars and colour revolutions (upsetting the locals to raise up against the power). Which honestly you're seeing more of.
  Don't worry, the powers will always find ways to innovate.
- saying that if NATO was to step onto Russian soil he would use them.
  Did he use those exact words? Last I recall he said if the existence of Russia was in jeopardy.

MAD.
If Russia uses nukes what is stopping other atomic powers from hitting Russia?
- I always loved this acronym, because while it means Mutual Assured Destruction, which is a given in a world with numerous nuclear-weaponry-equiped nations, it's clear that someone who thought they could just send out nukes and not get any in return is literally madder than a hatter.

I'll go ahead and venture another guess I don't see mentioned yet. It was one of many stall tactics he's employed, hoping to drag things out while the West (specific groups at least) grows weary of paying for proxy war.
- Honestly I suspect the countries supporting Ukraine are the ones dragging it out. Russia is getting it's military destroyed.
  Five digit numbers of armored vehicles gone, around a thousand aircraft, incredibly expensive and irreplaceable military equipment in flames, and many men never coming home.
  Russia is hurting because of this war, so from a certain cold-hearted utilitarian perspective the war is a good thing. Someone living somewhere like Latvia, and old enough to remember how badly the Russians treated them during the USSR, would see their military getting destroyed as a blessing even if they were sad to see the Kremlin leaving a trail of bodies through Donbas.
  People act like Russia can just keep on fighting because of it's larger population, but it was having serious demographic trouble before this even started. Whereas Ukrainians have a just cause, and they're defending their homes and families.

Because they are no longer scared of losing.
They stopped the counteroffensive and the west is cooling on the whole support for Ukraine thing. They think they can win this now.
And unless we do something, they could very well be right.
- And actually, nukes are part of the reasons we won't do much. Not only western nations aren't keen to send their kids dying in Ukraine. But Russia has nuke. A nuclear power engaging an offensive inside the territory of another nuclear power is a big risk of nuclear escalation. Remember the missile crisis in Cuba ? US officers considered a preemptive nuclear strike.
  Nuclear power fight each other by proxy. See how NATO provide weapon to Ukraine, or how Wagner mercenaries attacked french troops in Africa.

I am starting to heavily consider the option that this account is a bot. Look at his history
- You did not guess right
  
  This is a statement a bit would make.
  (Reading your post history, was very not bot like. Stay safe out there.)
- Every post is a question starting 2 days ago. There are some replies. Hmm... worth considering.
  
  I didn't know. Seems to be a teenager interested in computers and feels they are fighting a war against bots.
- bot is when asking questions
- You did not guess right
  P.S. LOOK AT HIS HISTORY!!!! OoOoOoOh...

The Boy Who Cried "Wolf."
Ever heard it?

Read "The Butter Battle Book" by Dr. Seuss....

If I remember correctly it was always the clown Medwedew who threatened to use nuclear weapons and throw them on London or some other bullshit, but never Putin directly

Haha! Pooted

He finally got an accurate inventory and found out all of the delivery systems and most of the nukes had required components sold off by the commanders

@labbbb
Are you a person or a bot?
- I'm Mark Zuckerberg
  
  The question stands
  
  A- I like your wit.
  B- I really appreciate this comment because it taught me that if somebody edits their comment Lemmy will also retroactively change the comment notification to the edited text as well (when I saw it originally it was before your edit so the message said "I am an internet person" but now shows your Zuck joke)

He figured out that his military had no intention to die for his dick measuring contest.
- But still they died for his dick measuring contest in front of the Ukrainians...

Pootin
RuSSia
Dude, grow up. There's plenty of ways to criticize Russia without resorting to literal children's humor.
- Nah, fuck Russia and any kind of legacy pooty poots wants. The less his name shows up correct, the less he will be remembered.
  
  It's dumb, but if it catches on we can begin referring to his Chinese colleague as Poohtin. So I'm all for it.
  
  The less you remember, the more open is the gate for the next one like him to show up. It's for a similar reason that Germans very much do make sure the Nazis aren't forgotten about, e.g. Let him have his fame in history books.
  As an example of what to avoid and how to avoid getting someone like him back.
  
  Pootin is surely finished this time
- Relevant username?
  
  Yeah I'm not sure how much room "PP BOY" has when it comes to telling people to grow up.
  
  lol
- I don't mind the second one but the first one is literally bypassing post filters.
- Jesus, one tiny joke and you go bananas.
  
  Hey now, it was TWO tiny jokes!