Putin threatens change to Russian rules surrounding nuclear weapons

Vladimir Putin has said that if Russia is attacked by a non-nuclear state which was backed by a nuclear armed one it would be considered a “joint attack.” 

Last night, the Russian president claimed his government were contemplating changing rules and conditions around the use of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. 

Putin’s comments could have a massive implication on the ongoing war in Ukraine.  

His words all but talking about Ukraine being a non-nuclear state which is currently being supported by nuclear armed countries, including the US and other NATO nations. 

This is Putin’s strongest threat towards the Western world who have been backing Zelensky and Ukraine for the past 2 and a half years. Threatening to use nuclear weapons in response to an attack which was classed as a “critical threat to our sovereignty” 

President Volodymyr Zelensky has been seeking approval for his country to use certain long-range Western missiles against military sites in Russia.

President Volodymir Zelensky of Ukraine with the US president Joe Biden, in the white house in December 2022. Image Credit – Wikimedia Commons

Zelensky is travelling to the US this week to meet with US President, Joe Biden, where he will be hoping for his demand to be approved. However, it now remains to be seen how the US will respond to President Putin’s recent words.  

The Ukrainians chief of staff Andriy Yermak has emphasised to the Western world’s powers that “Russia no longer has anything other than nuclear blackmail to intimidate the world” 

According to the BBC, Russia’s ally China, have called for calmness, with President Xi Jinping warning the Russian President against using nuclear weapons.

Despite these calls, Putin hosted a meeting with his Security Council on Wednesday and later went onto announce his revisions to his country’s nuclear weapons law 

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Xi Jinping of China meeting back in 2013. Image Credit – Wikimedia Commons.

The leader of the Kremlin stated, “We will consider such a possibility when we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack assets and them crossing our state border,” He referenced “strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other flying vehicles.” 

Earlier this month, Putin commented on the potential of the US and other NATO nations allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons: “It would mean they are at war with Russia,” he added, “If that’s the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats that we will face.” 

It was at the time unknown what these decisions were to be, but we now have some clarity on President Putin’s claims.