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President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday formally lowered the threshold for Russia’s use of its nuclear weapons, a move that follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russian territory with American-supplied longer-range missiles.
The new doctrine allows for a potential nuclear response by Moscow even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Ukraine fired six U.S.-made ATACMS missiles early Tuesday at a military facility in Russia's Bryansk region that borders Ukraine, adding that air defenses shot down five of them and damaged one more. Ukraine's military claimed the strike hit a Russian ammunition depot.
While the doctrine envisions a possible nuclear response by Russia to such a conventional strike, it is formulated broadly to avoid a firm commitment to use nuclear weapons and keep Putin's options open.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that the Ukrainian strike in Bryansk marked an escalation and urged the U.S. and other Western allies to study the modernized nuclear doctrine.
“If the long-range missiles are used from the territory of Ukraine against the Russian territory, it will mean that they are controlled by American military experts and we will view that as a qualitatively new phase of the Western war against Russia and respond accordingly,” Lavrov said on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Brazil without elaborating.
The approval of the document demonstrates Putin’s readiness to tap his nuclear arsenal to force the West to back down as Moscow presses a slow-moving offensive in Ukraine as the war reached its 1,000th day.
Asked Tuesday if a Ukrainian attack with longer-range U.S. missiles could potentially trigger a nuclear response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov answered affirmatively, pointing to the doctrine’s provision that holds the door open for it after a conventional strike that raises critical threats for the "sovereignty and territorial integrity: of Russia and its ally, Belarus.
Commenting on whether the updated doctrine was deliberately issued to follow Biden’s decision, Peskov said the document was published “in a timely manner” and that Putin instructed the government to update it earlier this year so that it is “in line with the current situation.”
Putin first announced changes in the nuclear doctrine in September, when he chaired a meeting discussing the proposed revisions. He has previously warned the U.S. and other NATO allies that allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied longer-range weapons to hit Russian territory would mean that Russia and NATO are at war.
Washington has permitted Ukraine to use the longer-range weapons on targets inside Russia after declaring that thousands of North Korean troops were deployed in the Russian region of Kursk to fight an incursion by Kyiv's forces.
“I’m unfortunately not surprised by the comments the Kremlin has made around the publication of this new, revised document," said U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, adding that since the war began, Russia has sought to "coerce and intimidate both Ukraine and other countries around the world through irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and behavior."
He added that Washington has not seen any reason "to adjust our own nuclear posture, but we will continue to call on Russia to stop bellicose and irresponsible rhetoric.”
A U.S. National Security Council official who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity underscored that the arrival of thousands of North Korea soldiers to take part in combat operations against Ukraine was a major escalation by Moscow that demanded a response.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the "irresponsible rhetoric coming from Russia, and that is not going to deter our support for Ukraine.”
“We’re now on Day 1,000 of a conflict. That’s 1000 days of Russian aggression, 1,000 days of sacrifices in Ukraine," he said at the G-20 summit in Brazil. "We have stood with Ukraine from the start. I’ve been doubling down in my clear message that we need to ensure Ukraine has what is needed for as long as needed to win this war against Putin.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in Warsaw that her country would not be intimidated by Russia’s new policy, saying her country made the mistake of cowering in the face of Moscow's aggression in the past but would not do so again.
In Warsaw, Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski described the revised Russian nuclear doctrine as a tacit acknowledgement that Moscow’s conventional forces are weaker than NATO.
The updated doctrine says an attack against Russia by a nonnuclear power with the “participation or support of a nuclear power” will be seen as their “joint attack on the Russian Federation.”
It says any massive aerial attack on Russia could trigger a nuclear response but avoids any firm commitment and mentions the “uncertainty of scale, time and place of possible use of nuclear deterrent” among the key principles of the nuclear deterrence.
The document also notes that aggression against Russia by a member of a military bloc or coalition is viewed as "an aggression by the entire bloc," a clear reference to NATO.
At the same time, it spells out conditions for using nuclear weapons in greater detail compared with previous versions of the doctrine, noting they could be used in case of a massive air attack involving ballistic and cruise missiles, aircraft, drones and other flying vehicles.
The formulation appears to significantly broaden the triggers for possible nuclear weapons use compared with the document's previous version, which stated Russia could tap its atomic arsenal if case of an attack with ballistic missiles.
President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron hand for more than 30 years and has relied on Russian subsidies and support, has allowed Russia to use his country’s territory to send troops into Ukraine and to deploy some of its tactical nuclear weapons.
Since Putin sent troops into Ukraine, he and other Russian voices have frequently threatened the West with Russia’s nuclear arsenal to discourage it from ramping up support for Kyiv.
Russian hawks called for toughening the doctrine for months, arguing the previous version failed to deter the West from increasing its aid to Ukraine and created the impression that Moscow would not resort to nuclear weapons.
—-
Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington, Eleonore Hughes in Rio de Janeiro and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw, Poland, contributed.
© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
55 Comments
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Underworld
More sabre rattling by Putin. Empty threats. He wants to influence Trump with this. But Trump's choice of secretary of state is a hawk, so it will likely change nothing.
Underworld
Exactly. Cowering to Putin only encourages him.
JJE
This is putting western sponsors on notice that using proxies to attack Russia is not going to go unpunished.
Russia has every right to take self-defense measures in reply to proxy attack.
Underworld
JJE
And Ukraine has every right to take self-defense measures in reply to this Russian attack.
Yrral
Put up or shut up
plasticmonkey
In reality, Rubio will most likely be a fairly weak SOS. He's not an adept negotiator, he's not very smart, and he'll do whatever Trump and his closest advisers tell him to do. I suspect Elon and Don Jr. will have more of an impact on foreign policy than Little Marco.
quercetum
Biden is going down swinging endorsing Kamala, scorching the earth of the Dems electoral landscape and now the brink of of another front in the war.
Never underestimate old people’s power.
quercetum
Trump wants to end the war and break up the Sino-Russia relations, an old idea that worked once upon a time with Nixon and it is why PRC China joined UN and ROC China was dumped and thrown under the bus by the US and its allies.
Let’s see if Trump uses ROC Taiwan as a bargaining chip again…talking about squeezing every bit out of a bait.
WA4TKG
“If I’m going down, YOU’RE going down” : Centrum
Nifty
Certainly Putin's decision makes use of nukes more likely. The US does fear nuclear war, but in such a way that would cause them to go after anyone threatening to use them. I'm sorry to hear that things are going down this path.
falseflagsteve
There won’t be WWIII but this conflict will end soon with Russia being in control of all land it has occupied.
Underworld
falseflagsteve
It won't end any time soon if Ukraine don't get security guarantees.
Peter Neil
let me see if i have this right.
russia attacks and invades ukraine.
russia launching missiles from russia into ukraine - ok.
ukraine launching missiles from ukraine into russia - not ok.
did i get that right?
englisc aspyrgend
The demented dwarf in the kremlin bunker is frothing at the mouth again, someone forgot to give him his medication.
Same threats and sabre rattling as for the last 1000 days of the 3 day invasion.
Like Peter Neil said above:
Usual Muscovite hypocrisy.
FizzBit
nope
Underworld
Peter Neil
Yup.
funkymofo
Who invaded who?
Destin Skye
It is refreshing to see America with a strong leader who doesn't bow down to despots like the previous guy did.
JJE
Important to observe the USA has a long and documented history of threatening non-nuclear armed states and parties involved in conflicts it was embroiled in with nuclear retaliation.
The first example of this, of course, Japan.
Second example is the Korean War, in which nuclear weapon use was widely threatened against (then non-nuclear armed) China and Pyongyang (whose country it was)
Third example is Nixon in the Vietnam war, who widely threatened Hanoi (whose country it was) and Beijing. Kissinger used to boast how he'd tell foreign leaders what an unpredictable madman his boss was and use that - threat of nuclear strikes - to basically threaten other countries.
Wouldn't be surprised if there is more.
Wick's pencil
You got it wrong, that's not how it started.
Underworld
JJE
Indeed when Trump was in power last time, he threatened North Korea with using a nuclear weapon against them.
I wonder what will happen this time...
Wick's pencil
Who is it though? Because it sure isn't Biden or Kamala.
Underworld
Wick's pencil
let me see if i have this right.
russia attacks and invades ukraine.
It certainly is how it started.
That's how imperialism always works.
Tokyo Guy
Yeah, yeah. This guy's like the school bully when you hit him in the face and he "swears" that he's going to beat you up (terms and conditions apply).
quercetum
It’s not about what’s okay or not okay.
It’s about notification, knowledge of what is coming, and the duty to let the other side know.
Mike_Oxlong
Lessons from the Cuban missile crisis forgotten by Biden admin.
Tokyo Guy
You got it wrong, that's not how it started.
Yes it is. It really is. The reason WW2 started is because Germany invaded Poland, and the reason this situation is going on is because Russia went after Ukraine. No amount of bloviating changes that. Any statement to the contrary is simply a lie.
stormcrow
Sad to see Russia use violence and threats of greater violence like this to steal the land of a peaceful nation and neighbor.
Burgerland
More sabre rattling by Putin. Empty threats."
Nobody can guarantee that. More bravado and never ending calls for escalating by posters hitting keyboards on a comfy sofa chair far away from the front lines is not very persuasive. Peace is needed asap not more escalation ala outgoing grampa Joe.
FizzBit
enjoy your WWIII. I won’t, but I will blame Biden and all the NATO \ Ukraine muppets. Only a muppet would call Ukraine peaceful when they were attacking and bombing their own citizens for years before the Russian invasion.
Burgerland
Biden is going down swinging endorsing Kamala, scorching the earth of the Dems electoral landscape and now the brink of of another front in the war. Never underestimate old people’s power."
On point. Can't be gone fast enough. US and the world sure dodged a bullet with Harris loosing too. She would have been disastrous on the international arena.
Burgerland
It won't end any time soon if Ukraine don't get security guarantees."
It will end much sooner with Trump admin incoming. Ukraine will likely get some sort of security guarantees but very unlikely NATO membership.
Primusinter
Russian's military claimed that the arsenal and its main territory are not damaged. The fire has been put out. Parts of American-made missiles with markings were found at the crash sites of the damaged missile. All those involved in the attack on the Bryansk region are being identified.
Besides Biden, of course.
The strike was carried out using American Pentagon satellites.
The task for the HIMARS launcher, from which the launch was carried out from the Sumy region, was introduced by NATO officers.
Coordination and guidance were previously carried out by NATO aircraft flying from Italy, Romania and Turkey.
Some dude
Why would Putain want to use nuclear arms if it's true that (according to our entirely neutral observers here) Russia is winning this conflict on every front imaginable, has not lost a single soldier since the conflict began, and is, honest guv, this close to forcing an unconditional surrender?
Some dude
Russian's military claimed that...
An easy one to resolve: reverse everything they say, and you have the truth.
Underworld
Burgerland
More sabre rattling by Putin. Empty threats."
Except that every other time the West escalated, nothing happened.
Oh, they are persuasive enough to get Biden to allow the missiles in the first place.
Don't forget that as soon as the US allowed these missiles use, the UK and France followed suit. The consensus in the West is that this is right way to deal with Putin.
And it is a good move.
Underworld
FizzBit
Sad to see Russia use violence and threats of greater violence like this to steal the land of a peaceful nation and neighbor.
So where is it? Where is WWIII? Ukraine have already used ATACMS in Russia.
A civil war started by Russia.
Toblerone
Well done Sleepy Joe, Harris and NATO!
Pushing Russia and China closer together and improving their relations with Iran and North Korea while simultaneously increasing the likelihood of nuclear war, excellent!
Dr Strangelove is here.
Underworld
Burgerland
It won't end any time soon if Ukraine don't get security guarantees."
I can't see why. Trump is a novice.
Equivalent to NATO membership would be fine.
Some dude
As a thought experiment and nothing more, it would be funny if Vladdy was stupid enough to use nukes, because that would surely be the tipping point to let NATO go all out, and they would reduce Moscow to a brown stain before Putin could call up another ten thousand fifty-year old alcoholics for reserve duty.
Yrral
US is providing GPS coordinates,give me some graph paper,I can design a GPS map in 5 minutes, even of Tokyo , starting at 35.7,139.7 putting everything in Tokyo on grid
Underworld
RichardPearce
Untrue. The US did none of the sort.
Some dude
Untrue. The US did none of the sort.
You have to forgive them; lying is all they have.
WoodyLee
""The new doctrine allows for a potential nuclear response by Moscow even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power.""
Some of us may know damn well where this is heading. most of us including myself got no idea what so ever but one thing I know for sure this is bad news.
WoodyLee
By the look of it War Mongers may get their WISH before the end of this decade.
Yrral
If Russia used a nuke,the US would not respond
Zaphod
Underworld
That is what people would think if their only information came from the breathless mainstream media narrative, which unsurprisingly never explains any background.
In the event, this recent escalation by the US with new attack rules is an attempt by the outgoing admin to tie Trumps hands by locking him into a war situation. In effect, the neolibs behind Biden are saying: join the forever war, or we all die.
Some dude
mainstream media narrative,
Anyone who has to rely on tenth grade "I know politics" soundbites simply can't be taken seriously.
Underworld
Zaphod
Untrue. The US did none of the sort.
That's strange, because I form my own opinions based on facts from a variety of sources. If you want to argue against it, you have to supply facts that prove this outrageous assertion.
Not just the US, but also the UK and France.
It does none of the sort. Trump is free to do what he wants.
Neolibs aren't behind Biden.
?
Peter Neil
russian disinformation is everywhere.
Fos
A sad attempt of a failing US administration to exacerbate this conflict to please one more time the usual lobbies in Wall Street. Check the company producing Atacms, Lockheed Martin Corp, +17% year to date.
As we all know the United States played a key role in generating and perpetuating this terrible conflict in Ukraine since the Bucharest Nato meeting in 2008:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0epyHOz-Pbs
Wasabi
putin is crazy to think that the world will accept this "excuses"... my guess he is speaking to his country man, hopping that the lies will stick. When you allow someone to lies to you years after years, some will start to listen.
The US also know what it is like, it will be an hard awakening in a few months or years.
wallace
This is more about Putin telling his fellow Russians than warning the West.
Underworld
Fos
So why didn't Russia invade Ukraine in 2008?
You will find that the Russia invaded Ukraine because of NATO theory thoroughly debunked.
For example, Russia annexed Crimea when they tried to join the EU, not NATO in 2014.
Not only that, Russia has nukes - they aren't threatened militarily.
Putin didn't invade Ukraine in 2022 because he feared NATO. He invaded because he believed that NATO was weak, that his efforts to regain control of Ukraine by other means had failed, and that installing a pro-Russian government in Kyiv would be safe and easy. His aim was not to defend Russia against some non-existent threat but rather to expand Russia's power, eradicate Ukraine's statehood, and destroy NATO, goals he still pursues.
mrtinjp
Biden and co doing everything to sabotage the incoming administration, and making it close to impossible for a peaceful, no interventionist solution.. and later blame the Trump administration, no regard to the massive loss of life this will cause.