here is the answer to Putin’s challenge

The United States speaks clearly: in the face of nuclear threats, Washington does not back down. A disturbing signal, which makes it clear that the point of no return is ever closer. Pranay Vaddi, member of the White House National Security Council, doesn’t beat around the bush: increasing nuclear warheads is possible. “In the absence of a change in adversaries’ arsenals, we may reach the point in the coming years where an increase in the current number deployed is necessary,” he said, speaking at the Arms Control Association. And for this “competitive approach”, as Vaddi himself defined it, the USA is only waiting for a decision from the president. A warning that leaves no room for doubt, and which between escalation with Moscow and chaos in various parts of the world, brings to mind the darkest moments of the Cold War, when the planet seemed very close to the abyss.