Russia updates nuclear doctrine amid Ukraine conflict escalation

Russia has updated its nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for using atomic weapons in response to Ukraine's recent strikes with Western missiles. This change follows U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to attack inside Russia. The new doctrine states that Russia may use nuclear weapons if its territorial integrity is threatened or if it is attacked by a non-nuclear state, like Ukraine, backed by a nuclear power. This marks a significant shift in Russia's nuclear policy. Despite the heightened rhetoric, experts suggest that the likelihood of Russia using nuclear weapons in the short term has not increased. The situation is being compared to the Cuban Missile Crisis, with Russia asserting that it will not back down over Ukraine.