Kremlin: Western Missiles in Ukraine Could Trigger Nuclear Response

Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally signed off on a revamped nuclear doctrine, Russian state media reported on November 19.

The updated Fundamentals of State Nuclear Deterrence Policy outlines the conditions under which Russia would resort to nuclear weapons.

These include a response to weapons of mass destruction used against Russia or its allies and instances of conventional aggression threatening the sovereignty of Russia or Belarus.

Notably, aggression by any nation within a military alliance against Russia will now be interpreted as an act of war by the entire alliance.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified the implications, warning that Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied non-nuclear missiles against Russia could provoke a nuclear response.

This follows a prior announcement by Putin on September 25, during a Security Council meeting, where he hinted at broader triggers for nuclear deterrence.