This is just posturing. There is no way that he will start WW3 over being blocked out of SWIFT. And no way that the military top command lets him do that either.
>Still requires a chain of consent. No world leader is operating the missle silos themselves.
You can't be sure how strong the climate of fear inside the Russian chain of command is. Consider the common bystander effect: almost everybody is expecting somebody else to act and do what's necessary but inconvenient and potentially lethal.
I don't think it's about SWIFT, it's probably the sanctions on the Russian central bank, which are unexpected and harder hitting.
So far it seems the war isn't going their way, the Ukrainian resolve is stiffer, and worldwide support is pretty decent ( in terms of armaments, financial, humanitarian, etc.). And sanctions have been quick and hard.
I wouldn't be surprised if a man used to getting his way is throwing a fit. Considering the invasion ( there's no way it ends well), it's time we stop assuming Putin is rational.
I hope there are people around him who can stop him.
Cutting off SWIFT was expected as a heavy sanction, but sanctions on the central bank directly is a huge deal. The only other countries in that exclusive club are Venezuela, North Korea and Iran, and is crippling for the economy of the country.
