Nuclear sabre-rattling

Nuclear doctrine: Kremlin blames NATO

A ballistic missile launcher rolls across Red Square.

(Bild: AFP/Alexander NEMENOV)

Nuclear power Russia has defended the changes to its doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons against criticism. The new principles of nuclear deterrence are justified by NATO enlargement.

The expansions are necessary because NATO's infrastructure is moving ever closer to Russia's borders and Western powers want to achieve a victory over Moscow with their arms deliveries to Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television on Sunday.

The decision on the necessity of using nuclear weapons would be made by the military, he added. The Kremlin spokesman was asked who would determine whether nuclear weapons would be used in view of the Ukrainian attacks on Russia with drones and missiles.

Agitators call for escalation
Russian propagandists are repeatedly calling in the state media for such a nuclear strike against Ukraine in order to defeat the country quickly. "That is more the prerogative of our specialists, our military. They keep a close eye on what weapons are used and how they are used," explained Peskov. Russia accuses the USA, Germany and other states of already being deeply involved in the war through their arms supplies.

Ukraine, which has been resisting Moscow's war of aggression for more than two and a half years, had accused Russia of "nuclear blackmail" in view of the changes to its nuclear doctrine. The country attacked by Moscow appealed to the West not to be intimidated and to finally release long-range weapons for strikes against targets in Russia.

Putin's killer argument
President Vladimir Putin had previously outlined new possible scenarios for the use of Russian nuclear weapons, which can now also be used as a counter-strike in the event of massive attacks with conventional weapons, should this threaten Russia's existence.

At a meeting of the Moscow Security Council on nuclear deterrence, Putin declared that Russia could also use nuclear weapons in the event of a massive attack from the air, i.e. with cruise missiles, aircraft, rockets or drones.