Russia. Putin expands the possibilities of using nuclear weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on Tuesday, on the thousandth day of his offensive against Ukraine, the decree expanding the possibilities of using nuclear weapons, just after the United States authorized kyiv to strike Russian soil with its long-range missiles.

“Among the conditions justifying the use of nuclear weapons is the launch of ballistic missiles against Russia,” according to this decree. Russia regularly carries out nuclear tests, as again last October.

“Adapt our foundations to the current situation”

“It was necessary to adapt our foundations to the current situation,” explained the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov, in the face of what Vladimir Putin considers to be “threats” emanating from the West against security. of Russia.

The Russian president had warned at the end of September that his country could now use nuclear weapons in the event of a “massive launch” of air attacks against Russia and that any assault carried out by a non-nuclear country, such as Ukraine, but supported by a power with atomic weapons, such as the United States, could be considered a “joint” aggression, potentially requiring the use of nuclear weapons.

Another case which opens the way to such a recourse, “the provision of territory and resources for aggression against Russia”, continues the text signed by Vladimir Putin.