Putin expands nuclear doctrine, issues fresh decree with a stern message to Ukraine, Western allies
PTC News Desk: In a stern message to the United States, Russia has expanded its nuclear threshold. In a latest order signed by President Vladimir Putin, he approved that any attack on Russia assisted by nuclear-armed ally will be termed as a joint assault on the country.
The development comes after mounting concerns of a wider conflict and Russia's rift with Ukraine and its western allies after Biden administration approved Ukraine to use US-supplied long range missiles to strike deep inside Russia after Putin's warning to the West against facilitating Kyiv's attack against Moscow.
According to the official document on government site, the revised decree emphasise on Moscow's intent to protect the nation's national security as Western countries gear up to expand military assistance to Kyiv.
"It was necessary to bring our principles in line with the current situation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said about the changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, calling the update a "very important" document that should be "studied" abroad.
The new policy broadens the scope of when Moscow can use nuclear weapons. The policy improvisation comes nearly a month after Putin's earlier remarks about revising the doctrine in the wake of perceived threats from allied states.
Russian President had earlier also multiple warnings to the United States and European allies advising them against giving a go ahead to Ukraine to launch attack on Russian territories with advanced Western arms and ammunition's that could result in a direct conflict with Russia escalating the rift.
- With inputs from agencies
