Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is not bluffing with his latest threat to use nuclear weapons in his war against Ukraine, but former U.N. Ambassador and national security adviser John Bolton told Newsmax on Thursday that Putin is, indeed, bluffing — at least “right now.”

Putin’s war has turned embarrassingly against him, leading to a nationally televised speech on Wednesday in which he announced the largest mobilization of military reservists since World War II and conscriptions that sent military-age men fleeing for the borders.

Still, Bolton said on “The Record With Greta Van Susteren,” “I think right now he is bluffing.

“My view is that it’s not a serious threat until Russian troops are completely routed on the battlefield fleeing back towards Russia or Ukrainian forces are about to cross the border.”