Putin Lowers Russia's Nuclear Threat Level Amid Escalating Tensions with Ukraine and the West

In a significant escalation of tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday revised the country's nuclear doctrine, raising the bar for its deployment of nuclear weapons. This move comes in response to the United States' recent approval of Ukraine's use of American missiles to strike targets inside Russia.

New Nuclear Doctrine

The Kremlin unveiled the updated nuclear doctrine, detailing the circumstances under which Russia may resort to using its nuclear arsenal. Notably, it states that Moscow could unleash a nuclear strike in the event of an attack by a non-nuclear country, backed by a nuclear state.

Furthermore, the defense ministry claimed that Ukraine had conducted its first strike on Russian soil using U.S.-supplied long-range weapons, targeting a military facility in the Bryansk region with an ATACMS missile. While Russian air defenses intercepted five ATACMS missiles, fragments of another struck a military facility in Bryansk, causing a fire that was promptly extinguished. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties or significant damage, according to the defense ministry.

The amendments to Russia's nuclear doctrine represent the most pronounced show of force by the Kremlin amid ongoing tensions, which have persisted for over 1,000 days since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that the update was necessary to align the document with the evolving political landscape.

Western Non-Nuclear Missiles

Peskov further outlined the implications of the updated doctrine, emphasizing that the use of Western non-nuclear missiles by Ukraine against Russia could potentially trigger a nuclear response. However, he underscored that this would be regarded as a "last resort measure."

Earlier this year, Putin hinted at revising the nuclear policy, cautioning Western nations against loosening restrictions on Kyiv's use of long-range weapons to target Russian territory. He also indicated that the use of nuclear weapons would extend to any aggression against Russia and its allies, even if Belarus were attacked.

The updated doctrine shifts the language regarding the potential use of nuclear weapons, broadening the scope to encompass critical threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia and Belarus. This represents a departure from previous language that limited the use of nuclear weapons to situations where the very existence of the state was at risk.

Increased Leeway

The changes introduce greater leeway for a Russian nuclear response to strikes on its territory, framed by the Kremlin as originating from Ukraine or the West. These adjustments are seen by analysts as a strategic maneuver, with Putin possibly attempting to present the West with two stark choices: the threat of nuclear conflict or the prospect of negotiating on Russia's terms.

U.S. Policy Shift

This development follows a shift in U.S. policy regarding the use of long-range weapons supplied to Ukraine. The Biden administration, previously resistant to relaxing restrictions, authorized the use of ATACMS missile systems for limited strikes inside Russia in light of reports of North Korean troops joining the conflict alongside Russian forces.

Warnings from Russian Officials

In response to the U.S. decision, Kremlin spokesperson Peskov condemned the move, accusing Washington of exacerbating the situation and provoking further tensions. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia's security council, issued a stern warning, asserting that any NATO missile attacks on Russia could lead to retaliation against Kyiv and NATO facilities using nuclear weapons, emphasizing the potential for escalating into World War III.