Russia revises nuclear doctrine with new warning to the West

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has announced a revision to Moscow’s nuclear doctrine, declaring that a conventional attack by any non-nuclear nation with the support of a nuclear power, will be seen as a joint attack on his country.

The threat, discussed at a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, was clearly aimed at discouraging the West from allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with longer-range weapons and seems to significantly reduce the threshold for potential use of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

Putin didn’t specify whether the modified document envisages a nuclear response to such an attack, but he emphasised that Russia could use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack posing a “critical threat to our sovereignty,” a vague formulation that leaves broad room for interpretation.

Russia is making slow but steady gains in Ukraine as the conflict grinds through its third year, and the Kremlin is seeking to discourage stronger Western support for Kyiv.

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues his push to get approval from the West to use long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia, Putin’s warning indicates that doing so would mean “Russia and NATO are at war”.

“Conditions for Russia’s move to use nuclear weapons are clearly stated” in the revisions, he said.

The current doctrine says Moscow could use its nuclear arsenal “in response to the use of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, as well as in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy.”

Russia’s hawks have been calling for toughening the doctrine for months, criticising the current version as too vague and weak. They argue it has failed to deter the West from increasing aid to Ukraine and has created the impression that Moscow won’t ever resort to nuclear weapons.

The formulation of the new doctrine appears to significantly broaden the triggers for possible nuclear weapons use, compared with the current version of the document, which states Russia could tap its atomic arsenal if its receives “reliable information is received about the launch of ballistic missiles targeting the territory of Russia or its allies.”

Ukraine has repeatedly struck Russian territory with missiles and drones in response to Moscow’s attacks.

The new phrasing holds the door open to a potential nuclear response to any aerial attack — a deliberate ambiguity intended to make the West more reluctant to allow longer-range strikes.