Written By Lisa Murimi
President Vladimir Putin indicated on Wednesday that Russia could regard an attack from a non-nuclear state, if supported by a nuclear-armed nation, as a “joint attack.”
This pronouncement is seen as a potential justification for the use of nuclear weapons in the evolving war with Ukraine.
Putin’s remarks come amid Ukraine’s efforts to secure long-range Western missiles to target Russian military installations, particularly as Ukrainian forces have made incursions into Russian territory this year.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, currently in Washington, is expected to discuss this military request with President Joe Biden.
Responding to Putin’s comments, Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, accused Russia of engaging in “nuclear blackmail.” As tensions mount, China has called for calm, with President Xi Jinping reportedly advising Putin against deploying nuclear weapons.
Putin’s statements also proposed a revision of Russia’s nuclear doctrine, suggesting that the country might use nuclear weapons if conventional missile strikes pose a “critical threat” to its sovereignty.
He reiterated that Russia’s nuclear arsenal remains the foremost safeguard of national security.
