 The US President learns that Russia has mobilized its nuclear arsenal in response to their president 's death . He orders American nuclear weapons readied in response . CIA Agent Winter then suddenly kills everyone except the President and introduces himself as Nikolai Tarkovsky , another KA . Winter incapacitates the President and begins aiming nuclear missiles at Mecca and Tehran to incite millions of Muslims against the United States . Salt tries to persuade Winter to let her inside the sealed room , but then he sees a television report that President Matveyev is alive and well : Salt had used spider venom to cause a simulated death of Matveyev . Winter refuses her entry and reveals that Mike 's kidnapping and her blown cover were his idea . Winter plans to place full blame for the nuclear attacks on Salt . Salt breaks into the room before he can launch the missiles . The two wrestle for control of the nuclear football , with Salt aborting the missile strikes before being captured . 
