Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the country's updated nuclear doctrine, which has sparked a wide international backlash. The move comes amid recent reports of US President Joe Biden's decision to give Ukraine access to new types of long-range missiles, which would allow Ukraine to launch more precise strikes deep into Russian positions in occupied territories. Speaking at a Security Council meeting, Putin stressed that the updated doctrine reflects the changed security situation in the face of modern threats.
The main theses of the doctrine, which was legalized by the decree of the President of the Russian Federation:
– aggression against Russia and its allies by a non-nuclear country with the support of a nuclear state will be considered a joint attack;
– Russia may use nuclear weapons in the event of a critical threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of itself and Belarus;
– among the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons is the launch of ballistic missiles against the Russian Federation (ATACMS is such a missile – Ed.)
– a nuclear response from the Russian Federation is possible in the event of a “critical threat to its sovereignty” even with conventional weapons, in the event of a massive launch of military aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and other aircraft and their crossing of the Russian border.
– providing territory and resources for aggression against the Russian Federation is also a basis for nuclear deterrence.
The key change in the Russian nuclear doctrine is this point: "aggression against Russia or its allies by a non-nuclear state with the support of a nuclear state is considered a joint attack.".
This clause was apparently written specifically for the war in Ukraine and is intended to justify the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons both against Ukraine and against countries that are helping Kyiv in the war. That is, against the US and its NATO allies.
Previously, representatives of the Russian government at various levels sent signals that Moscow could use nuclear weapons in the event of strikes by Western long-range missiles on its territory. In particular, yesterday the speaker of the State Duma Volodin made this clear. Putin previously stated that such strikes would mean the direct participation of Western countries in a war against Russia. And today Peskov stated this.
"Ukraine's use of Western non-nuclear missiles against the Russian Federation under the new doctrine could result in a nuclear response," Dmitry Peskov said.
It is also significant that Putin approved the new nuclear doctrine shortly after reports appeared in Western media that Biden had allowed Ukraine to launch strikes with American long-range missiles on Russian territory. The White House has not yet officially confirmed this.
