I think you have this backwards. Putin's nuclear bluff was gradually becoming transparently hollow. But he just couldn't give it a rest. Instead he comes up with these cockamamie theatrics. By treating it seriously, your are abetting Putin's scare tactics (unintentionally, of course).

My hope is the Russian people will resent being drawn into this "brinkmanship". What is left of the stability that Putin supposedly provided Russians?

Speaking of propaganda, what's with this inflammatory image of the Capitol in flames?!