Russian nationalist hardliners are calling on President Vladimir Putin to abandon negotiations with the United States and dramatically escalate the war against Ukraine, including by considering the use of tactical nuclear weapons, Reuters reported on Friday, June 26.According to Reuters, the calls intensified after a series of Ukrainian drone strikes reached Moscow, St. Petersburg and occupied Crimea, fueling anger among pro-war commentators who argue that diplomacy with Washington has failed to produce results favorable to Russia.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.Some nationalist bloggers and public figures have urged the Kremlin to abandon US-backed peace efforts altogether and instead seek Ukraine’s complete military defeat.“What else needs to happen before we start fighting for real? War means victory at any cost,” nationalist businessman Konstantin Malofeyev said after a Ukrainian strike reportedly set fire to an oil refinery near Moscow. He also questioned why Russia was “not using nuclear weapons” developed during the Soviet era.Others argued that Moscow should emulate Iran’s approach toward the United States and intensify attacks on Ukraine. Nationalist blogger Yuri Baranchik claimed Ukrainian strikes on Moscow “would have been impossible without the go-ahead from Washington” and argued Russia now has “no choice” but to confront the United States more directly.Kremlin resists pressureDespite increasingly aggressive rhetoric, Reuters reported that the Kremlin has so far resisted demands to abandon negotiations with Washington.