Russia Expands Nuclear Weapon Use Conditions Under Putin’s New Directive

During the meeting of Russia’s Security Council on September 25, Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced expanded conditions to Russia's nuclear deterrence doctrine.

• Putin stated during the Security Council meeting that in the "updated version of the document, aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is proposed to be considered a joint attack on the Russian Federation."

• The Russian leader expanded the "category of states and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence."

• The document also added to the list of "military threats for which nuclear deterrence measures are implemented."

• A "critical threat to the sovereignty of the Russian Federation using conventional weapons" would serve as a basis for a nuclear response.

Putin did not clarify what constitutes a "critical threat."