Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree "On the Approval of the Fundamentals of the State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence." The document was published on the legal information portal on November 19 and has come into effect, reports Meduza.
The updated doctrine stipulates that the grounds for a nuclear strike could include "aggression against the Russian Federation and its allies by any non-nuclear state with the support of a nuclear state," as well as a massive airstrike using non-nuclear means, including drones.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the updated doctrine "was published in a timely manner." He responded to questions about the connection between the publication of the nuclear doctrine and the U.S. approval of Ukraine's use of American missiles to strike deep into Russian territory, as reported by Interfax.
"Relevant instructions from the president were given in advance. The president himself said that the preparation of these changes is in its final stages," said Peskov.
- Vladimir Putin proposed updating the nuclear deterrence doctrine at a meeting of the Russian Security Council on September 25. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, stated that the changes should be viewed as "a certain signal" to the West. "This is a signal warning these countries about the consequences in case of their participation in an attack on our country using various means, not necessarily nuclear," Peskov said.
- Putin approved the updated nuclear doctrine of Russia two days after U.S. President Joe Biden authorized the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike Russian territory with American long-range ATACMS missiles on November 17.
