Russian strategic thinking rejects that (juvenile) notion. They have thought the unthinkable and figured out how to win. As far as they are concerned, it makes no difference what you think. You will lose, anyway. It is just easier for them if you are convinced that surrender is better than resistance. The only thing that deters them is the prospect of not winning (i.e., losing). Very long faces at the prospect of losing. Fortunately, we have the remains of a fighting philosophy in our nuclear forces, but unless it is nurtured and perpetuated, it will go the way of the dodo. And so will we.

What this means is: you don't dick around with the possibility of nuclear war. Ever. It could be our very last mistake. (This doesn't mean we don't fight one if we need to---but we sure better not go nuclear unless we utterly need to.)