Putin Decides to Expand the Conditions for the Use of Nuclear Weapons by Russia.

Putin Proposes Changes to Nuclear Deterrence Doctrine

Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, announced the need to make changes to the country's nuclear deterrence doctrine. He provided a number of clarifications on the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons, in particular, proposing to consider "aggression" against Russia as a joint attack by any non-nuclear state with the participation or support of a nuclear state.

Putin also noted that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of "aggression" against Belarus, which is a member of the Union State, as well as in the case of a "critical threat to the sovereignty of the Russian Federation and the use of conventional weapons."

Putin also announced the expansion of the category of states and military alliances against which Russia's nuclear deterrence is directed. These comments are explained by expectations regarding permission for Western weapon strikes deep into Russian territory from Ukraine.