Vladimir Putin expands the possible use of nuclear weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on Tuesday, November 19, 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.

“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 « menaces » emanating from the West against the security of Russia.

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The Russian president warned at the end of September that his country could now use nuclear weapons in the event of “massive launch” 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 as aggression “joint”potentially requiring the use of nuclear weapons.

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

“NATO countries are at war with Russia”

In a context of intensifying deadly and destructive strikes by Moscow's troops in Ukraine, US President Joe Biden a few days ago gave the green light to kyiv to use American missiles on Russian territory, confirmed to the AFP an American official.

The exact terms of this authorization, which has not been officially announced by Washington, however, remain unknown.

According to media reports, the American green light could be limited to strikes against the Russian region of Kursk partially controlled by the Ukrainian army and where North Korean troops would be deployed.

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kyiv had been seeking authorization for many months to use long-range missiles against Russia. Vladimir Putin explicitly warned in mid-September that such a decision would mean that “NATO countries are at war with Russia”.

He then said that his country could resort to nuclear weapons in the event of “massive launch” planes, missiles or drones against its territory.

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, Vladimir Putin has blown hot and cold about the possible use of nuclear weapons.

Russia deployed tactical nuclear weapons in the summer of 2023 to Belarus, its closest ally, which also announced in May a synchronized exercise with Moscow to check its tactical nuclear weapons launchers.