Russia is making changes to the nuclear doctrine — Putin

In the updated version of the nuclear doctrine of the Russian Federation, aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or with the support of a nuclear one, is proposed to be considered as their joint attack on The Russian Federation. This was stated at a meeting of the Russian Security Council by President Vladimir Putin.

The Head of State noted that over the past year, experts have conducted an in-depth analysis and assessed the need to adjust approaches to the possible use of Russian nuclear forces. Based on the results of this work, it was proposed to make a number of clarifications regarding the definition of the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons.

"Thus, the draft framework expands the category of states and military alliances in respect of which nuclear deterrence is carried out. The list of military threats, for the neutralization of which nuclear deterrence measures are carried out, has been supplemented. I would also like to draw your attention to something else: in the updated version of the document, aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is proposed to be considered as their joint attack on The Russian Federation," Putin said.

In addition, the document, according to him, clearly sets out the conditions for the transition of the Russian Federation to the use of nuclear weapons.

"We will consider this possibility already after receiving reliable information about the massive launch of the means of an aerospace attack and their crossing of our state border. I am referring to strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other aircraft," the head of state stressed.

Russia also reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Russia and Belarus as a member of the Union State, "including if the enemy, using conventional weapons, poses a critical threat to our sovereignty," Putin added. All these issues have been agreed with the Belarusian side.

"All clarifications are deeply verified and proportionate to modern military threats and risks against the Russian Federation," the president stressed.