Changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine are a ‘signal’ to the West, Kremlin spokesman says

The changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine proposed by President Vladimir Putin should be considered a “signal” to Western countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday.

“Sensible heads of states and politicians […] understand and understood the gravity of President Putin’s statements very well,” Peskov said. “This is a signal that warns these countries about the consequences in the event of their participation in an attack on our country by various means, and not necessarily nuclear ones.”

“The whole world and sensible people are well aware of our nuclear potential and its deterrent role,” Peskov added.

The proposals, which Putin outlined at a Security Council meeting on Wednesday, include considering aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state with the backing of a nuclear state as a “joint attack” and allowing the use of nuclear weapons to fend off large-scale air attacks using non-nuclear weapons, including drones. Putin also said Moscow would reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of a conventional weapons attack against Russia or Belarus.