Putin lowers nuclear response threshold in new military doctrine
President Vladimir Putin has officially lowered Russia's threshold for using nuclear weapons. The new doctrine allows for a nuclear response to conventional attacks on Russia, even if those attacks are supported by a nuclear power. This change follows U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to strike targets in Russia with longer-range missiles. The updated doctrine broadens the conditions under which Russia might use nuclear weapons, including responses to significant aerial attacks. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukraine recently launched missiles at a military facility in Russia, marking an escalation in the conflict. The new doctrine reflects Moscow's intent to maintain flexibility in its nuclear strategy amid ongoing tensions with the West.