Putin updates Russia's nuclear doctrine to allow strikes in response to conventional attacks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a new nuclear weapons doctrine that lowers the threshold for using nuclear arms. Under this doctrine, Russia can use nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks, including those supported by nuclear-armed states. This change comes shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly authorized Ukraine to use long-range U.S. weapons for strikes inside Russia. The new policy allows Russia to consider such attacks as grounds for nuclear retaliation. Previously, Russia's nuclear doctrine permitted nuclear strikes only in response to nuclear attacks. The updated doctrine now includes scenarios where conventional attacks pose a "critical threat" to Russia's sovereignty.