Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced changes to the country’s nuclear doctrine, stating that Russia could respond with nuclear weapons if attacked with conventional arms. The revised doctrine lowers the threshold for nuclear weapon use and comes amid tensions with Ukraine and the West. Putin’s decision-making power regarding nuclear weapons remains unchanged, and the document specifies conditions for nuclear use in response to a conventional attack.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Western powers to disregard Russia’s threats, calling them nuclear blackmail. The existing nuclear doctrine allows for nuclear weapon use in case of a nuclear or conventional attack threatening the state’s existence. The revised doctrine specifies responses to a massive air attack as well.
The Institute for the Study of War warns that Putin’s nuclear threats could spark panic among Western policymakers, especially concerning Ukraine’s access to Western-provided weapons. The revised doctrine also extends Russia’s nuclear umbrella to Belarus, a move that could affect its support for Russia in conflicts.
Putin’s decision to expand the conditions for nuclear weapon use has raised concerns about the escalation of nuclear threats. Russia and the US together control 88 percent of the world’s nuclear warheads, highlighting the global significance of Putin’s latest revisions to the country’s nuclear doctrine.
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