Putin signs revised nuclear doctrine lowering engagement threshold for Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new nuclear doctrine that lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons. The revised policy states that a conventional attack on Russia, supported by a nuclear power, will be viewed as a joint attack. This update comes on the 1,000th day since the invasion of Ukraine and follows the U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to strike targets in Russia with longer-range missiles. The new doctrine expands the conditions under which Russia might use nuclear weapons, including responses to massive aerial attacks. The updated doctrine also specifies that nuclear weapons could be used in defense of Belarus, a close ally of Russia. This marks a significant shift from the previous doctrine, which had stricter criteria for nuclear engagement.