Vladimir Putin has approved changes to Russia’s nuclear code, setting new conditions under which the country will consider using its weapons.
Doctrine now states that an attack by a non-nuclear state, if backed by a nuclear power, would be considered a joint attack on Russia.
The update was proposed in September. And the 1,000th day of the war with Ukraine was rubber-stamped on Tuesday.
It follows a decision in Washington on Monday. Allow Ukraine to fire US long-range missiles at Russia.
Under the changes, a major attack on Russia by conventional missiles, drones or aircraft could meet the criteria for a nuclear response, as would an attack on Belarus or a serious threat to Russia’s sovereignty.
Any aggression by an allied state against Russia would be viewed by Moscow as an aggression by the entire group.
The updates expand the number of countries and allies, and the types of military threats, that are subject to a possible nuclear response, according to the state-run Tass news agency.
Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons in the past, and Ukraine has criticized it as a “nuclear holocaust” to prevent further aid to its allies.
In announcing the change, the Kremlin urged other countries to study the changes.
“This is a very important text,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that “it should be the subject of a very deep analysis,” according to Tass.
Russia warned on Monday. “A proper and solid” Reaction to US President Joe Biden’s move to allow Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles to attack the country.
Such an attack inside Russian territory would “represent the direct involvement of the United States and its satellites in hostilities against Russia,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.
Mr Peskov said on Tuesday that the new doctrine had been published “in a timely manner” and that Putin had requested it be updated earlier this year so that it was “in line with the current situation”. Reported.
