Dmitry Peskov Photo: Evgenia Novozhenina / Reuters
Russia has announced that it is drafting changes to its nuclear doctrine, which will be officially enshrined when necessary. The move is a reaction to the US decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia, Reuters reports.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the changes to the nuclear doctrine have been “practically formulated” and will be formalised “as necessary”. He also described Washington’s decision as “reckless” and warned of Moscow’s possible response.
Russia has repeatedly claimed that the West is “playing with fire”, testing the limits of what a nuclear power can tolerate. In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that providing Ukraine with long-range missiles was actually engaging NATO and the West in a war.
According to the TASS news agency, the updated doctrine provides for:
- The possibility of using nuclear weapons in the event of massive launches of strategic and tactical missiles, cruise missiles, drones and other vehicles that violate the Russian border.
- Defence of Belarus as an allied state of Russia, aggression against which could also be the basis for a nuclear strike.
Western analysts see these changes as an attempt by Moscow to scare the West away from further expanding military assistance to Ukraine. The decision of the Joe Biden administration to allow ATACMS strikes was a response to Russia’s deployment of North Korean forces in the war against Ukraine.
This situation is exacerbating tensions between Moscow and the West, which have reached the worst level since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow is ready to normalise relations with Washington, but stressed that this requires efforts on both sides:
“We cannot dance the tango alone,” Peskov said.
The US decision to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles has become a new challenge for global security. Russia is responding with changes to its nuclear doctrine, which significantly increases the risk of escalation. The West continues to closely monitor the Kremlin’s actions, while strengthening its support for Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty.
