Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved significant updates to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, broadening the conditions under which the country might deploy nuclear weapons. This decision appears to be a reaction to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, particularly following the U.S. decision to permit Kyiv to use American-supplied weapons for long-range strikes on Russian territory.
The revised doctrine, announced Tuesday, marks a departure from Russia’s previous nuclear policies. It now includes scenarios where attacks by non-nuclear states, if supported by nuclear-armed allies, could justify a nuclear response. This change closely aligns with the current dynamics of the Ukraine conflict, where Western powers, including the U.S., provide military and intelligence support to Kyiv.
The Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed this shift in policy, describing it as a reaction to the West’s deliberations on enabling Ukraine to conduct deeper strikes within Russia. The updated doctrine also expands the list of potential triggers for nuclear deployment, now encompassing large-scale attacks involving aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, or other aerial threats crossing Russia’s borders.
Experts suggest the timing of this announcement is not coincidental. It came just before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, during which they discussed the use of ATACMS missiles for extended-range strikes into Russian territory. Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center noted that Russia’s rhetoric aims to dissuade NATO from enabling such attacks.
On Sunday, the Biden administration officially approved the use of U.S. weapons for long-range strikes, signaling a potential escalation in the conflict. This development also reflects strategic recalibrations as the world anticipates a shift in U.S. foreign policy following the 2024 presidential elections.
The broader implications of these changes remain uncertain, but they represent a notable escalation in the rhetoric and strategies surrounding the Ukraine conflict. Western nations continue to view the use of nuclear weapons as a catastrophic possibility that could transform the war into a global crisis.