President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia is considering revising its nuclear doctrine to allow the use of nuclear weapons against nuclear-armed nations that support attacks on Russian territory. This potential change would enable Russia to respond with nuclear force to conventional missile attacks and consider such assaults, backed by a nuclear power, as joint attacks by both the attacker and the supporting nation.
In a meeting of Russia’s Security Council on Sept. 25, Putin proposed that aggression by a non-nuclear state, supported by a nuclear power, should be viewed as a joint attack on Russia. This announcement coincides with President Joe Biden’s upcoming meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where Zelenskyy is expected to present a plan to end the war and request permission to use American missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory.
The Biden administration has thus far restricted the use of American arms by Ukraine to short-range strikes on military targets, denying requests for offensive strikes into Russian territory. Putin emphasized that Russia’s potential shift in nuclear doctrine is a response to current military threats and clarified conditions under which nuclear weapons could be used.
The current Russian nuclear doctrine, established in 2020, permits the use of nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear or conventional attack threatening the state’s existence. Russian officials have warned of a dangerous phase in the conflict with Ukraine, with ongoing tensions in the Kursk region and Ukraine losing key towns in the southeast.
Both Putin and Biden have cautioned against actions that could escalate tensions and trigger a conflict between NATO and Russia, potentially leading to a global conflict. Russia, as one of the world’s largest nuclear powers, emphasizes the importance of maintaining modern nuclear capabilities to ensure state security and strategic balance.
Putin also stated that Russia would refrain from testing new nuclear weapons as long as the United States follows suit. This commitment underscores the importance of nuclear non-proliferation and maintaining global stability. Can you please rewrite this sentence?
Source link
