Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a revised nuclear doctrine — days after the US greenlit Ukrainian use of longer-range missiles against Moscow. The development came even as Kyiv carried out their first strike on a border region in Russia using Western-supplied missiles. According to the newly signed doctrine, Russia will now view aggression against itself or its allies by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power as a joint attack. Put more simply, an Ukrainian attack against Russia or allied Belarus would be considered a joint US-Ukraine attack — that could trigger a nuclear response.
“Russia's new nuclear doctrine means NATO missiles fired against our country could be deemed an attack by the bloc on Russia. Russia could retaliate with weapons of mass destruction against Kiev and key NATO facilities, wherever they're located. That means World War III,” wrote former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev — currently the deputy head of the Security Council chaired by Putin.
