Putin signs new nuclear doctrine allowing for potential nuclear response to Ukraine's Western missile use
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new nuclear doctrine that lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons. The updated policy states that military actions by Ukraine, supported by Western non-nuclear missiles, could trigger a nuclear response from Russia. The doctrine emphasizes that any aggression from a military coalition against Russia will be viewed as a collective threat. It maintains that nuclear weapons are a means of deterrence and that their use is a last resort. The revised policy follows a recent decision by the U.S. allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory. The Kremlin insists that its nuclear strategy is defensive and that decisions on nuclear use will remain with the head of state.