**Putin Considers Revising Nuclear Policy Amid Ukraine Conflict**

Vladimir Putin has indicated that Russia might view an attack from a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear-armed nation as a "joint attack." This stance could signal a threat to deploy nuclear weapons in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. On Wednesday night, the Russian president discussed potential changes to the criteria and rules governing Russia's use of its nuclear arsenal.

Ukraine, a non-nuclear state, has been receiving military aid from the US and other nuclear-armed nations. As Kyiv is seeking approval to use long-range Western missiles against Russian military sites, these remarks come at a crucial time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the US this week, and a meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington is scheduled for Thursday, where Kyiv's request is anticipated to be a key discussion point.

Ukraine has made advances into Russian territory this year and aims to strike bases it claims are launching missiles into Ukraine. In response to Putin's statements, Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, remarked that Russia now seems reliant on "nuclear blackmail" to intimidate the global community. This is not the first instance of nuclear threats from Putin, previously criticized by Ukraine as "nuclear sabre-rattling" intended to dissuade allies from extending support.

Even Russia's staunch ally, China, has stepped in, with reports suggesting President Xi Jinping has advised Putin against using nuclear arms. However, following a meeting with his Security Council, Putin announced a proposed radical expansion of Russia's nuclear doctrine. This new strategy would clearly delineate the conditions under which Russia might transition to using nuclear weapons, including conventional missile strikes on Moscow.

Putin emphasized that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, with the support of a nuclear state, would be deemed a joint attack on the Russian Federation. He asserted that the country's nuclear arsenal remains the "most important guarantee of security" for Russia and its citizens.

Since World War II, nuclear-armed states have pursued a deterrence policy, predicated on the notion that a major nuclear exchange would lead to mutually assured destruction. However, tactical nuclear weapons, which are smaller and designed to destroy targets without widespread radioactive fallout, also exist. In June, Putin cautioned European countries supporting Ukraine, stating Russia possesses "many more [tactical nuclear weapons] than there are on the European continent, even if the United States brings theirs over."

At that time, he had hinted at changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, which outlines the conditions under which Moscow would deploy nuclear weapons. As Zelensky seeks robust support from the US, his goal is for Ukraine to remain "very strong" in order to push Russia towards negotiations.