Russian state media reported on Sunday that Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov announced Russia’s intention to revise its nuclear doctrine. The decision follows an examination and analysis of recent conflicts, including Western escalation tied to the special military operation. Ryabkov emphasized that while the document is nearing finalization, setting a specific timeline for its completion remains complex due to its implications on national security.
Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview that the country is militarily prepared for nuclear conflict, with a consistently combat-ready military and a more modern nuclear triad compared to other nations.
The current doctrine, the Foundations of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Area of Nuclear Deterrence, signed by Putin in 2020, allows Russia to use nuclear weapons in response to nuclear or mass destruction attacks against the state or its allies, as well as conventional attacks that threaten the state’s existence. It specifies four conditions that could trigger a nuclear response: reliable information on ballistic missile launches targeting Russia or its allies, the adversary’s use of nuclear or other mass destruction weapons against Russia or its allies, actions targeting critical state or military assets compromising Russia’s nuclear retaliation, and conventional aggression threatening the state’s survival.
In June, Putin remarked that Russia’s nuclear doctrine is a living document, adaptable to new circumstances.
For further details, see the original report from JURIST.