By In a significant shift in Russia’s nuclear doctrine, President Vladimir Putin has warned that the country may respond with nuclear weapons if attacked with conventional arms. During a televised meeting of Russia’s Security Council, Putin announced revisions indicating that an attack by a non-nuclear power—supported or participated in by a nuclear power—would be regarded as a “joint attack on the Russian Federation.”
Putin emphasized that Russia could use nuclear weapons in response to any conventional attack that poses a “critical threat to our sovereignty,” a vague term that leaves room for interpretation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described this as a “definite signal” to the West, cautioning that participating in an attack on Russia could have severe consequences, regardless of whether the assault is nuclear.
EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano remarked, “Not for the first time, Putin is playing [a] gamble with his nuclear arsenal. We, of course, strongly reject these threats.”
As the primary decision-maker regarding Russia’s nuclear arsenal, Putin’s final approval is required for the doctrine changes. The revisions significantly lower the threshold for nuclear weapon use and come amid discussions among Ukraine’s Western allies about allowing Kyiv to use longer-range weapons to target military sites deep within Russia. This development follows Ukraine’s unexpected incursion into Russia’s Kursk region last month.
Although Putin did not mention Ukraine directly, he stated that the changes to the nuclear doctrine were essential due to a rapidly evolving global landscape that has introduced new threats and risks for Russia.
