Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that any foreign military undertakings within his country’s borders, if assisted by a nuclear power, might be regarded as a collective action.
“It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation,” Putin suggested to his Security Council during a meeting to review the embattled nation’s nuclear use doctrine.
The 71-year-old leader defended his recommendation, telling committee members the changes were necessary to address the present external threats facing Russia.
Currently, the Kremlin’s stated policy on the subject permits the deployment of nuclear devices in the event of an attack with weapons of mass destruction or to defend an incursion if it threatens the existence of the state.
The potential revisions follow several cautionary statements made by Putin and his associates in response to the possibility that Washington and its NATO allies will allow Ukraine to conduct long-range strikes deeper into Russian territory. Officials in Kiev argue the authorization is essential to mitigate recent gains made by Russia’s armed forces on the battlefield.
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