Media Wire Express Correspondent
Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved significant changes to the country’s nuclear doctrine, broadening the conditions under which nuclear weapons may be used.
The updated policy allows nuclear responses to large-scale conventional attacks by non-nuclear states if those states are backed by nuclear-armed allies. This includes attacks involving non-nuclear advanced weaponry such as drones or missiles.
The decree follows heightened tensions with the West, particularly after U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to permit Ukraine to use American-supplied missiles to strike Russian targets. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that these changes had been under consideration for months but were announced “at the right time.”
The revised doctrine is widely viewed as a message to Western nations supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. It explicitly warns of severe consequences should proxy states backed by nuclear powers engage in attacks against Russian territory or its allies.
Putin’s decision comes amid intensifying military engagements in Ukraine, with Kyiv leveraging Western-supplied weaponry to challenge Russian advances. NATO allies, including the U.S., have recently escalated their support for Ukraine, prompting Russia to bolster its deterrence strategies.
The Kremlin has justified the policy update as a necessary safeguard against Western interference and a measure to preserve national security. However, global observers fear this move could lead to heightened instability, further complicating efforts to de-escalate the ongoing war.
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Analysts point to the doctrine’s ambiguity, raising concerns about potential misinterpretations that could lead to unintended confrontations. The clause allowing nuclear responses to conventional strikes highlights the thin line separating conventional warfare from nuclear escalation.
International leaders have expressed alarm over the changes, urging restraint from all parties. European nations, already on edge due to the war in Ukraine, view the policy as a dangerous shift in global nuclear norms.
The United Nations has called for dialogue to address the escalating tensions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining existing non-proliferation agreements. Meanwhile, NATO remains divided over how far to push support for Ukraine without triggering further responses from Moscow.
