Putin Lowers Nuclear Threshold in Response to U.S. Arms Decision for Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons, a step taken following U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles capable of striking inside Russian territory.

The revised doctrine permits a nuclear response even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation supported by a nuclear-armed state.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Ukraine fired six U.S.-made ATACMS missiles at a military site in Russia’s Bryansk region on Tuesday. Air defenses reportedly intercepted five, with the sixth sustaining damage. Ukraine claims the strike targeted a Russian ammunition depot.

While the new doctrine broadens the circumstances under which nuclear weapons might be used, it avoids explicitly committing to their deployment, leaving room for interpretation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov labeled the Ukrainian strike an escalation and urged Western nations to review Moscow’s updated policy. Lavrov warned that using long-range missiles supplied by the U.S. would signify direct involvement by American military experts, marking a new phase of conflict.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a nuclear response could be considered under the doctrine’s provisions if a conventional strike threatens Russia’s sovereignty or territorial integrity. He stated that the document was revised earlier this year to reflect current global circumstances.

Putin had signaled intentions to amend the nuclear policy in September, warning NATO against enabling Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil. The updated doctrine underscores that attacks involving a non-nuclear nation but supported by a nuclear-armed ally would be treated as a collective assault on Russia.

Western leaders condemned the policy shift. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller accused Moscow of using nuclear threats to intimidate Ukraine and its allies, emphasizing that Washington saw no need to alter its own nuclear stance. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed unwavering support for Ukraine, calling out Russia’s “irresponsible rhetoric.” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski criticized Moscow for weaponizing its nuclear capabilities to mask its conventional military shortcomings.

The document details scenarios that could prompt a nuclear response, including large-scale attacks using ballistic missiles, drones, or other aerial threats. It also expands the conditions under which nuclear arms might be deployed compared to previous versions.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a key ally of Putin, has permitted the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil and allowed Russian forces to use his country as a staging ground for the Ukraine invasion.

Since the conflict began, Russia has frequently referenced its nuclear arsenal to discourage Western nations from increasing military support for Ukraine. Hardliners within Russia had advocated for a tougher doctrine, arguing that earlier policies failed to deter Western assistance to Kyiv.