MOSCOW, Sep 24 (Alliance News) – President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to the West on Wednesday, stating that Russia could resort to nuclear weapons if attacked with conventional missiles.
During a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, he clarified that any aggression against Russia supported by a nuclear power would be viewed as a joint attack.
This announcement reflects a significant shift in Russia’s official nuclear doctrine, aimed at addressing growing concerns over the West’s discussions about allowing Ukraine to use Western missiles against Russian targets.
Putin emphasized the changing global landscape and the new threats facing Russia as the impetus for these revisions.
He articulated a key change: “It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation.”
Furthermore, he outlined the conditions under which Russia would transition to using nuclear weapons, stating that such a decision could be made in response to a massive missile or drone attack against the country.
Putin reiterated that Russia reserves the right to employ nuclear weapons if it or its ally Belarus is subject to aggression, including through conventional means.
These updates to the nuclear doctrine expand the scenarios under which Russia might consider a nuclear response and include Belarus under its nuclear protection umbrella.
The backdrop of these developments is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has escalated tensions between Russia and the West to levels not seen since the Cold War.
As Ukraine faces setbacks against advancing Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged allies to permit Ukraine to launch strikes deep into Russian territory, raising fears of a wider conflict.
Putin’s comments underscore the dangerous dynamics at play, with both he and U.S. President Joe Biden cautioning that a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO could lead to a global conflict.
The stakes are high, as Russia maintains a significant nuclear arsenal, controlling about 88% of the world’s nuclear warheads alongside the United States.
In conclusion, Putin’s remarks signal a deliberate recalibration of Russia’s nuclear strategy, aimed at deterring perceived threats and reinforcing its military posture amid an increasingly volatile international landscape.
