Putin approves updates to Russia’s nuclear doctrine to allow attacks on non-nuclear ‘proxy’ states
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree approving changes to Moscow’s nuclear doctrine.
The updated doctrine states that a nuclear strike by Moscow can be justified if it comes in response to “aggression against Russia and its allies by any non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear state,” or to a large-scale air attack with non-nuclear weapons, including drones.
Putin first proposed updating Russia’s nuclear doctrine at a Security Council meeting on September 25. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the change should be viewed as “a signal” to the West: “This is a signal to warn these countries of the consequences that would ensue if they take part in an attack on our country using any means, not necessarily just nuclear.”
When asked by journalists on Tuesday if the update was a response to U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike deep inside Russia, Peskov stated that the decree was “published at the right time,” but emphasized that Putin had issued instructions for the doctrine change "well in advance."
