Putin Lowers Russia’s Threshold for Using Nuclear Arms

On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin took a significant step by lowering Russia’s nuclear weapons threshold, finalizing a revised nuclear doctrine. This move, which had been in the works for months, appeared timed to send a clear message after President Biden authorized the use of U.S.-made long-range missiles by Ukraine against Russian targets.

Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, was asked whether Russia could use nuclear weapons in response to such Ukrainian strikes. He reiterated the language of the updated doctrine, which asserts that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks that pose a “critical threat” to the nation’s sovereignty or territorial integrity.

The updated doctrine also outlines that Russia may consider using nuclear weapons if attacked by a non-nuclear state with the support of a nuclear power. This raises the possibility of a nuclear response not only to Ukrainian actions but also against U.S. military facilities, especially if American support is involved.

Peskov highlighted a key section of the revised doctrine in his daily briefing, stressing that any aggression against Russia or its allies, with backing from a nuclear power, would be viewed as a joint attack—further solidifying the potential for a nuclear escalation.