Warning from Putin to Western countries: Russia will consider using nuclear weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with members of the Russian Security Council on the subject of nuclear deterrence.

In addition to Vladimir Putin, the meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Director of the Russian Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Sergey Naryshkin, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Rashid Nurgaliyev, Director General of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) Yury Borisov, and Director General of the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) Alexey Likhachev.

Delivering the opening remarks regarding the purpose of the meeting, Vladimir Putin said, “On today's agenda is the issue of updating the foundations of state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence.

This is a document in which, along with military doctrine, Russia's nuclear strategy is officially defined and detailed. In the updated version of the document (Foundations of State Policy in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence), an attack on Russia by any non-nuclear state, with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is considered a joint attack on the Russian Federation.”

"RUSSIA WILL CONSIDER USING NUCLEAR WEAPONS"

Continuing his speech, Putin stated that they could also consider using nuclear weapons against a possible air and space attack by their adversaries, saying, “According to the final version of the document, an attack by a country without nuclear weapons, with the support of another country that has nuclear weapons, is considered a joint attack against Russia.

The document also clearly states the conditions for Russia's transition to the use of nuclear weapons. We will consider this possibility after receiving reliable information about the massive launch of air and space attack weapons and their crossing of our state border. I am referring to strategic or tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, hypersonic and other aircraft,” he warned, signaling that they would respond with nuclear weapons to possible air attacks against them.

Continuing his speech, Putin stated that they could also respond with nuclear weapons in the event of a possible attack on Belarus as a “Union State,” saying, “We reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Russia and Belarus as a member of the Union State.

All these issues have been agreed upon with the Belarusian side and with the President of Belarus (Alexander Lukashenko). This also includes cases where an enemy using conventional weapons creates a critical threat to our sovereignty,” he said.

Reminding that these points have been included in the draft principles of the Russian Federation's state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence, Putin added, “In the draft principles of state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence, the category of states and military alliances to which nuclear deterrence applies has been expanded. Additionally, a list of military threats has been added.”