Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West that Russia could use nuclear weapons in response to conventional missile strikes, particularly if the attack involved the support of a nuclear power, Reuters reports.
This marks a significant change in Russia’s nuclear doctrine, aimed at addressing what Putin called new global threats. The updated doctrine would consider any conventional aggression by a non-nuclear state, supported by a nuclear power, as a joint attack on Russia. The doctrine also expands the conditions under which Russia might use nuclear weapons, including attacks on its ally, Belarus.
This adjustment comes as Western allies debate whether to allow Ukraine to use Western missiles to strike inside Russia, a move Russia says would escalate tensions. Ukrainian officials criticized the announcement, accusing Russia of nuclear blackmail.
