Russia signs new nuclear doctrine as Lavrov warns of Western escalation in Ukraine conflict

Russia's expanded nuclear doctrine, signed by President Putin, lowers the threshold for using nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks. This change follows increased military threats from Ukraine, including a recent strike on Russian territory using U.S.-made missiles. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if attacked with conventional arms. He indicated that Ukraine's recent missile strike could potentially trigger a nuclear response under the new doctrine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at the G20 Summit, claimed the West is escalating the conflict. He expressed hope that Western nations will fully understand the implications of Russia's updated nuclear policy. The U.S. has stated it will not respond to these developments.