Russia lowers nuclear threshold, citing Western threats

At the moment, the West – especially the US and the UK – are still considering whether to allow Ukrainian forces to attack Russian territory using NATO-supplied long-range missiles, President Vladimir Putin has just issued a highly significant statement on to his country’s nuclear doctrine.

Put Wednesday very clear lowered the threshold on the use of nuclear weapons by Russian strategic forces. In a televised address to Russia’s Security Council, he said the nuclear doctrine had effectively been revised in light of “the emergence of new sources of military threats and risks to Russia and our allies.” This is clearly in response to the latest series of escalated cross-border attacks in Ukraine deep in Russian territory. Some of them threatened to hit Moscow.

He went on to describe this in the case of the Western powers aid another nation in a major attack on Russian soilthe same western powers will be held accountable. This may trigger a Russian nuclear launch, according to the new doctrine. This lowers the bar for what can be considered an “existential threat” against the Russian homeland and its population.

Putin exposed, conformable to a translation: “The updated version of the document proposes that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear-weapon state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear weapons state, should be considered as a joint attack on the Russian Federation.”

While he did not say that this would automatically greenlight Russia’s ability to respond with nuclear weapons, he did say that the threshold for their use would be reached based on “reliable information about the massive launch of aerospace attack means and their crossing of our state border.”

Then he included defense of Belarus as part of the change: “We reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Russia and Belarus as a member of the Union State,” Putin said.

Below is a paraphrase of Putin’s words and some additional details about the changes made by RT administered by the state:

Moscow would also be “to consider” resorting to a nuclear response if it arrives “reliable information” about a “massive” missile or air strike launched by another state against Russia or its closest ally, Belarus, according to Putin. Weapons used in a potential attack by an enemy could include anything from ballistic or cruise missiles to strategic aircraft and drones, he stated.

The timing of this dramatic and serious change in nuclear policy is undoubtedly aimed at Zelensky’s visit to the United States, where he is separately presenting Ukraine’s “victory plan” to President Biden, Vice President Harris, as well as Donald Trump.

Zelensky stressed that a key component of this plan is for the West to lift all restrictions on the use of long-range weapons. Ukraine’s long-range cross-border attacks have already been somewhat devastating, with dozens of oil and gas depots, airfields and ammunition storage sites hit over the course of several months. Zelensky wants to inflict more pain on Russia directly, hoping to build more leverage for a favorable resolution to the war.

Biden a few days ago answered that “not” – nothing has yet changed in terms of Washington policy on all of these. Putin’s words on Wednesday are timed to keep pressure on the US and ensure that no new green light is given to Kiev’s use of things like the Army’s Tactical Missile System or Britain’s Storm Shadows.

Of course, Putin’s advance warning earlier this month should have been enough to deter saner minds in the West. He previously said that “This would significantly change the very nature of the conflict.” At the time, he stated that long-range missile strikes on Russia “would mean that NATO countries, the US, European countries, I am at war with Russia.”

Even if Biden resists further escalation in the face of Putin’s fresh nuclear warnings, it remains to be seen what the next administration will do, whoever occupies the White House. Trump, in particular, was the only candidate who strongly expressed that the US must prioritize peace negotiations to urgently end the war. Harris is expected to continue Biden’s policies, which have led to continued escalation.

By Zerohedge.com

More top reads from Oilprice.com