Vladimir Putin has approved changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, outlining new conditions for potential use of its nuclear arsenal. The updated doctrine states that an attack from a non-nuclear state, if supported by a nuclear power, will be considered a joint assault on Russia.
This revision, proposed in September and finalized on Tuesday—marking the 1,000th day of the war with Ukraine—follows Washington's recent decision to allow Ukraine to fire long-range US missiles into Russia.
Under the new guidelines, a significant attack on Russia using conventional missiles, drones, or aircraft, as well as an attack on Belarus or any critical threat to Russia's sovereignty, could warrant a nuclear response. Any aggression against Russia by a coalition member would be viewed as aggression from the entire group.
These updates broaden the scope of countries and coalitions, as well as the types of military threats that could trigger a nuclear response, according to state-run news agency Tass.
Putin has previously threatened nuclear action, which Ukraine has denounced as "nuclear sabre-rattling" aimed at deterring support from its allies. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the country’s commitment to preventing nuclear war, stating that a G20 declaration called for a world free of nuclear weapons.
In announcing the changes, the Kremlin urged other nations to closely examine the new doctrine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described it as "a very important text" that deserves thorough analysis.
On Monday, Russia warned of a "proportionate and tangible" response to US President Joe Biden's authorization for Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles against Russia, asserting that such actions would signify direct US involvement in hostilities. Peskov noted that the updated doctrine was timely and aligned with the current situation, as requested by Putin earlier this year.
