Putin updates nuclear doctrine to lower response threshold after Ukraine strikes
Russian President Vladimir Putin has updated the country's nuclear doctrine, stating that any conventional attack on Russia supported by a nuclear power will be viewed as a joint attack. This change comes after the U.S. allowed Ukraine to strike targets in Russia with longer-range missiles. The new doctrine specifies that a massive aerial attack on Russia could trigger a nuclear response. It broadens the conditions under which nuclear weapons could be used, compared to the previous version, which focused mainly on ballistic missile threats. Additionally, the revised policy includes provisions for using nuclear weapons in response to aggression against Belarus, a close ally of Russia. Belarus has allowed Russian military operations and the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on its territory.