Putin is the primary decision-maker on the use of Russia's nuclear arsenal. The doctrine said any attack by a non-nuclear power supported by a nuclear power would be considered a joint attack, and that any attack by one member of a military bloc would be considered an attack by the entire alliance, it said.

Russia is again threatening the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine, as the country lowers its own threshold for when it might use those kinds of weapons.

Russia’s use of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile marks a decisive, and potentially dangerous moment in Moscow’s conflict with the West.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a new nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for a nuclear strike in response to a broader range of conventional attacks. Here is some international reaction to Tuesday's move: WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL "We were not surprised by Russia's announcement that it would update its nuclear doctrine;

Russia's Dmitry Medvedev warned of nuclear war if the U.S transfers nuclear weapons to Ukraine: "The consequences are obvious."

The war between Russia and Ukraine is intensifying with new attacks and new concerns over the weapons being used by both sides. Vladimir Putin says Russia’s use of a nuclear-capable weapon is a response to Ukraine firing American weapons deeper into Russia for the first time.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who has been on the Security Council of Russia since 2020, has warned that a new missile could cause "unacceptable" damage to main European cities in the spac

In his solemn address last Thursday, the Russian president threatened countries that help Ukraine with nuclear retaliation. In this respect, an extract from Vladimir Putin's speech about the new Russian doctrine is particularly illuminating: “In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons,