Peskov: The West challenges Russia to review its nuclear doctrine

"Washington's escalation of the war in Ukraine and the actions of the collective West have forced Russia to reconsider its nuclear doctrine".

This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, US News reported.

Russia recently said it would make changes to the policy defining the circumstances for the use of nuclear weapons, but has yet to provide detailed information on the changes.

The existing nuclear doctrine, laid out in a 2020 decree by President Vladimir Putin, says Russia can use nuclear weapons in the event of a nuclear attack by the enemy or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the state.

"The revisions come against the backdrop of challenges and threats provoked by the countries of the so-called collective West," Peskov said.

"Moscow is taking into account the possibility that Ukraine could use US-supplied long-range weapons in its attacks deep into Russian territory," he added.

Ukraine has long demanded that its allies allow it to use Western weapons to strike targets located inside Russia. Those calls are growing louder as Russia steps up airstrikes on Ukrainian energy and other infrastructure, as well as residential blocks.
"It is obvious that the Ukrainians will do this. We take all this into account," the Kremlin spokesman said.

At least 50 people were killed and 271 injured when Russia fired two ballistic missiles at a military institute in the central Ukrainian city of Poltava on September 3, the deadliest attack this year. | BGNES