Because recent experiences show couple of things. First, in practice, the Kremlin cannot be brought to a negotiating table by killing its soldiers. That used to be a key assumption of Finland’s defense strategy for instance. So we need means to hurt grievously something the Kremlin must care about.
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As I write that, I find the answer is "not much".
Soooo, can the Kremlin be brought to the negotiating table? If so, what is the tool?
The second order is to consider how the Kremlin can be brought to heel if war breaks out. That requires sufficient warfighting capability and strong resistance to nuclear blackmailing tactics.
Meanwhile, 🇷🇺 has used novichok on UK soil and crickets.
What's a credible deterrent? Credible is the key word.
Sanctions?
Nukes?
Ground invasion?
Sikking Zelensky on Moscow?
Only one of those is credible, 🇷🇺 is trying to neutralize it.
Britain and Russia may have skirmishes, but are very unlikely to have wars that threaten Britain’s existence.
Nuclear weapons cannot deter ALL conflict - obviously.
But they can and do raise the stakes of going to a genocidal war of conquest, such as Russia is currently waging against #Ukraine.