Russian President Vladimir Putin approved an updated nuclear doctrine on Tuesday, emphasizing that Russia may consider using nuclear weapons if attacked with conventional missiles supported by a nuclear power.
The decision to alter Russia’s official doctrine is a response from the Kremlin to the reported decision of U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration to allow Ukraine to launch long-range American missiles deep inside Russia.
The updated doctrine, which outlines the threats that might push Russian leadership to consider a nuclear strike, states that an attack by fighter jets, drones, or conventional missiles could be seen as such a threat.
According to this doctrine, any aggression against Russia by a state that is a member of a coalition will be considered by Moscow as aggression from the entire coalition.
Just weeks before the U.S. elections in November, Putin ordered the change in the nuclear doctrine to emphasize that any conventional attack on Russia assisted by a nuclear power could be considered a joint attack against Russia, reports REL.
The war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has led to the most significant confrontation between Russia and the West since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.
