### Putin Warns on Expanded Nuclear Doctrine Amid Rising Tensions

In a significant shift, President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that Russia could resort to nuclear weapons if struck by conventional missiles and would treat any attack supported by a nuclear power as a joint assault on Russia. This adjustment in Russia's nuclear doctrine comes as a response to discussions in the United States and Britain about potentially allowing Ukraine to use Western missiles against Russia.

Speaking at a meeting with the Security Council, Putin emphasized the new threats and risks that have emerged in the rapidly changing global landscape. "It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation," he stated.

Russia's new doctrine spells out specific conditions under which nuclear weapons might be used, including detecting the mass launch of missiles, aircraft, or drones. The changes also extend protection under the nuclear umbrella to ally Belarus.

The Kremlin's current nuclear policy, set forth in a 2020 decree by Putin, permits the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a nuclear strike on Russia or a conventional attack that threatens the state's existence. The updated doctrine broadens the scenarios under which Russia might consider a nuclear strike. It also indicates that a nuclear power aiding a conventional strike on Russia would be seen as directly attacking Russian territory.

The amendments to Russia's doctrine have been in development for the past year, Putin revealed to the Security Council. He affirmed that Russia's nuclear triad remains the cornerstone of the country's security and a critical factor in maintaining global power balance.

The nearly three-year conflict in Ukraine has brought about the most severe standoff between Russia and the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been lobbying Western allies for months to allow Ukraine to deploy Western missiles deep into Russian territory, a move aimed at curbing Moscow's offensive capabilities.

Despite losing strategic areas in the east, the Ukrainian leadership continues to urge the West to ignore Russia's "red lines." In contrast, Putin and some Western officials caution that pushing these boundaries could lead to global conflict. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has also voiced concerns over the potential for nuclear escalation.

The United States and Russia hold a combined 88% of the world's nuclear warheads, making the stakes of this geopolitical chess game extraordinarily high. The updated doctrine underscores Russia's commitment to using its nuclear arsenal as a deterrent and underscores the strategic importance of the nuclear triad in safeguarding national security.

Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, dismissed Putin's remarks as nuclear blackmail, suggesting that it is the only tool Russia has left to influence global events. However, the potential repercussions of these doctrinal changes add a dangerous layer of complexity to an already volatile international situation.