Putin Lowers Threshold for Russian Nuclear Weapons Use Amid Rising Global Tensions

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced revisions to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. Speaking during a Security Council meeting on September 26, 2024, Putin outlined the changes, stating that nuclear weapons could be used in response to conventional attacks on Russia if they involve support from a nuclear-armed nation.

The revisions specify that any attack threatening Russia’s sovereignty, including massive air or missile strikes, could trigger a nuclear response. Putin emphasized the need for this shift due to growing global threats, though he did not mention Ukraine by name. The announcement follows recent Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory and ongoing debates among Ukraine’s Western allies over providing Kyiv with long-range weapons.

Western analysts have expressed concern, warning that loosening nuclear use conditions raises risks. Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at RAND, called it alarming when a nuclear power reduces the conditions for deployment.

The changes also extend nuclear protection to Belarus, where Russia has already stationed tactical nuclear weapons since the Ukraine invasion.