Russia will revise its nuclear weapons policy in response to Western actions in Ukraine. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced this on Sunday.
President Vladimir Putin established the current nuclear doctrine in 2020. It permits Russia to use nuclear weapons if a nuclear or significant conventional attack threatens the state. Some Russian military analysts want to lower this threshold to intimidate the West. In June, Putin suggested that the doctrine could change with global events. Ryabkov confirmed on Sunday that these changes are underway. He clarified that the revisions respond to Western actions in Ukraine.
Moscow accuses the West of using Ukraine to weaken Russia. The West denies this, insisting they support Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has issued multiple warnings, which the West views as nuclear threats. Despite these warnings, the US and its allies have increased military aid to Ukraine, supplying advanced weapons. Recently, Ukrainian forces crossed Russia’s western border, challenging Putin’s warnings. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy now seeks permission to strike targets deep inside Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that the West is “going too far.” Ryabkov did not specify when the new nuclear doctrine will be finalized but emphasized its critical role in national security. Russia possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. Putin has stated that Russia is ready for nuclear conflict but sees no immediate need for such action in Ukraine.
