Putin confirmed Russia's updated nuclear doctrine

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree approving the updated nuclear doctrine - the foundations of state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence.

"One of the government's priority tasks is to stop the imminent enemy's aggression against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies. Deterring the aggression will be ensured by the military power of the Russian Federation, including nuclear weapons," the document says.

"The state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence is of a defensive nature, aimed at maintaining the capacity of nuclear forces at a sufficient level to ensure nuclear deterrence, protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, deterring an imminent enemy, and preventing aggression against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies. , and in the event of a military conflict - escalation of hostilities under conditions acceptable to the Russian Federation and (or) its allies, and aimed at preventing their suspension," the document says.

According to the document, Russia maintains a policy of nuclear deterrence against states or military coalitions (bloc, alliances) that it considers to be its inevitable enemies, as well as those that have nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction.

The main principle of the doctrine: nuclear weapons are an emergency measure to protect the country's sovereignty, the document says.

According to the doctrine, Russia and its allies, including Belarus, reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of the use of conventional weapons of mass destruction and other conventional weapons that pose an extremely high threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Belarus.

The decree enters into force from the date of signing.

The previous interpretation of Russia's nuclear doctrine was approved in June 2020.