Putin: Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Belarus
Moscow reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Russia and Belarus – as stated by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, at a meeting of the Security Council on nuclear deterrence, sb.by reports with reference to the Kremlin
"We reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Russia and Belarus as a member of the Union State – also if the enemy, using conventional weapons, creates a critical threat to our sovereignty. All these issues have been agreed with the Belarusian side and the President of Belarus,” Vladimir Putin said.
During the meeting, the Russian leader proposed to make a number of clarifications to the nuclear doctrine of the Russian Federation. In particular, the draft expands the category of states and military alliances against which nuclear deterrence is being carried out. In turn, the list of military threats to neutralise which nuclear deterrence measures are being carried out has been expanded.
"I would like to draw your attention to a particular point. Aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is proposed to be considered in the updated document as a joint attack on the Russian Federation. The conditions for Russia's transition to the use of nuclear weapons are also clearly determined. We will consider this possibility upon receipt of reliable information about a massive launch of means of aerospace attack and their crossing of our state border. When saying this, I mean strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other aircraft," Vladimir Putin noted.
The President added that all the clarifications of the Russian nuclear doctrine are seriously verified and commensurate with modern military threats and risks against Russia.
