The Kremlin said on Thursday, September 26, that the change in Russian doctrine regarding the use of nuclear weapons, announced the day before by Vladimir Putin, should be considered as a “signal” to the West, with whom tensions have been at their highest since the offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday that his country could use nuclear weapons if there was a “massive launch” of airstrikes, and that any assault by a non-nuclear country backed by a nuclear-armed power could be considered “joint” aggression. It comes as Ukraine tries to convince its allies to let it use long-range missiles against Russian territory, a prospect that has already led Russian officials to threaten the West with nuclear strikes.
The change “should be seen as a specific signal,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “This is a signal that warns these countries of the consequences of participating in an attack on our country with various means, not necessarily nuclear,” he added.
He was responding to a question about how “unfriendly” countries should view the change, a term often used to refer to Western nations. “Of course, nuclear deterrence is adjusted to take into account the elements of tensions that are developing on our borders,” Peskov added, a clear reference to Ukraine.
A response to “new sources of threats”
Vladimir Putin justified the proposed changes on Wednesday by “the emergence of new sources of threats and military risks for Russia and its allies.” The Russian president made the announcement during a televised Security Council meeting on nuclear deterrence, which is not usually public. The adoption of this new doctrine has not yet been formalized.
According to Vladimir Putin, Russia could consider using nuclear weapons “if we receive reliable information about the mass launch of aerospace attack means and their crossing of our state border,” he warned. Vladimir Putin stressed that this includes “strategic and tactical” aviation, missiles or even drones. “We reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Russia or Belarus,” its very close ally, the Russian president added.
Dmitry Peskov, however, said that Wednesday’s meeting was not about expanding Russia’s nuclear arsenal. “No, there was no mention of such plans,” he said.