Russian President Putin Signs a New Doctrine That Lowers the Threshold for Using Nuclear Weapons

The problem for the Kremlin, of course, is whether the threat of nuclear retaliation to Ukraine striking targets inside Russia with Western conventional weapons is a credible threat,

said Kristensen

Russia's willingness to climb the nuclear ladder to a great extent comes down to the thinking and the predilections of one man, Vladimir Putin,

said Episkopos

The Russian perception that this is a step by the Biden administration to tie Trump's hands when he gets into office,

said Episkopos from the Quincy Institute

I'm somewhat astounded about the details and very broad scenarios described in the document,

said Hans Kristensen, director of the nuclear information project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

It goes far beyond what we have seen in documents from other nuclear-armed states,

he told Newsweek

The West would have to believe that Putin would actually order the use of nuclear weapons in retaliation for a very limited conventional attack that does not in any way threaten Russia's survival or its ability to operate its nuclear forces,

he said

Dmitry Peskovkremlin spokesman

We have a special secure line for communication between the two presidents, Russia and the United States,

Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency

They've been signalling that they intend to update [the Russian nuclear doctrine] over the last several weeks. It's the same irresponsible rhetoric that we've seen before and that we've seen frankly for the past two years. So, it's something that we're going to continue to monitor. But we don't have any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon within Ukraine. And we don't see any changes that need to be made to our own nuclear posture as well."

Quote from Singh

This is more of the same irresponsible rhetoric from Russia, which we have seen for the past two years,

a spokesperson for the US National Security Council told AFP

[Putin] has issued so many red lines that the latest change almost sounds like a desperate cry for attention,

wrote Hans Kristensen of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists

This is how nuclear deterrence works,

Podvig told The Moscow Times

If it comes to using nuclear weapons, no one will recall any doctrine. Putin will not ask for what the doctrine allows and what it doesn’t. Any commanders who would get the orders will not doubt them and will rush to execute,

he said

Put simply, Peskov openly admits that the Kremlin is currently considering the possibility of a nuclear strike,

she said

As we said earlier this month, we were not surprised by Russia’s announcement that it would update its nuclear doctrine; Russia had been signaling its intent to update its doctrine for several weeks,

the spokesperson said in a statement that also cited "more of the same irresponsible rhetoric from Russia."

The destruction of ammunition depots will continue for the army of the Russian occupiers in order to stop the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine,

the Ukrainian military said on the Telegram messaging app

Dmitry Peskovkremlin spokesman

The military operation against Kyiv continues,

Peskov said

Ukraine will never submit to the occupiers, and the Russian military will be punished for violating international law,

the foreign ministry said in a statement

Russia's use of banned chemicals on the battlefield once again demonstrates Russia's chronic disregard for international law,

a statement from Ukraine’s foreign ministry said

A month after I adopted Osci, my best friend died. It was sudden and unexplained,

writes Bethan L Evans

Russia has always viewed nuclear weapons as a deterrent, the use of which is an extreme, forced measure,

Peskov said