Russia Updates Nuclear Doctrine, Citing US-Supplied Weapons for Ukraine
Russia has revised its nuclear doctrine, explicitly stating that attacks on Russian territory using conventional weapons, but with the involvement of a nuclear state, will be considered a joint act of aggression justifying a nuclear response, CNN reports.
This announcement comes just two days after President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to strike targets deep within Russia using American-supplied long-range weapons.
The Kremlin framed the change as a response to the Biden administration’s decision, which Moscow views as a dangerous escalation of the conflict. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified in a press call that the revised doctrine lowers the threshold for the first use of nuclear weapons, saying Russia “reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression using conventional weapons against it and/or the Republic of Belarus.”
While nuclear deterrence has long been a cornerstone of Russian military strategy, the updated doctrine broadens the definition of aggression. Peskov emphasized that the revision aims to ensure potential adversaries understand the “inevitability of retaliation” for attacks on Russia or its allies.
The move is widely seen as a warning to Ukraine’s Western allies, aimed at discouraging further provision of advanced weaponry. The Kremlin’s message is clear: increased military aid to Kyiv carries significant risks of escalation, including a potential nuclear response.
This announcement coincides with a recent surge in Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, primarily targeting energy facilities as winter approaches.
