Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has announced revisions to Moscow’s nuclear doctrine, indicating a lower threshold for the possible use of the country’s nuclear arsenal. The new doctrine states that a conventional attack by a non-nuclear nation with the support of a nuclear power will be seen as a joint attack on Russia. This move is seen as a clear warning to the West to prevent Ukraine from striking Russia with longer-range weapons. While Putin did not specify if a nuclear response is envisaged in the modified document, he emphasized that Russia could use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack posing a “critical threat to our sovereignty”. This vague formulation leaves room for interpretation and broadens the triggers for possible nuclear weapons use.
The new doctrine appears to make Russia more willing to use nuclear weapons, compared to the current version which only allows for nuclear use in response to a nuclear attack or aggression when the state’s existence is in jeopardy. The revisions come as Ukraine continues its push for Western support to use long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia, with Putin warning that such actions would lead to war between Russia and NATO. The revised nuclear doctrine has been criticized by Russia’s hawks for being too vague and weak, failing to deter Western aid to Ukraine.
The revised nuclear doctrine aims to make the West more reluctant to allow longer-range strikes on Russia, with the potential for a nuclear response to any aerial attack. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has escalated with Russia seeking to discourage stronger Western support for Kyiv. Putin’s warning is a clear message that Russia is willing to use nuclear weapons in response to conventional threats.
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