Putin issues warning to US with new nuclear doctrine

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov 19 approved an updated nuclear doctrine, saying that Moscow could consider using nuclear weapons if it was subject to a conventional missile assault on it supported by a nuclear power.

The decision to change Russia’s official nuclear doctrine is the Kremlin’s answer to a decision by the administration of US President Joe Biden to

allow Ukraine to fire American long-range missiles deep into Russia.

The updated doctrine, outlining the threats that would make the Russian leadership consider a nuclear strike, said an attack with conventional missiles, drones or other aircraft could also be considered to have met these criteria.

It also said any aggression against Russia by a state that was a member of a coalition would be considered by Moscow to be aggression against it by the whole coalition.

Just weeks before the November US presidential elections, Mr Putin ordered changes to the nuclear doctrine to say that any conventional attack on Russia aided by a nuclear power could be considered to be a joint attack on the country.

The 2½-year-old Ukraine war has triggered the gravest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis – considered to be the closest the two Cold War superpowers came to intentional nuclear war. REUTERS