New York, September 26, 2024 — The Europe Today: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has labeled President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion to revise Russia’s national nuclear doctrine as “irresponsible.” Putin indicated that any aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear state, supported by a nuclear power, could be deemed a “joint attack” and cross the nuclear threshold, marking a significant shift in Russia’s nuclear stance, according to the Rt and News Hub Consultants.
In a statement made on Wednesday, Putin suggested that the proposed doctrine change could apply to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory using advanced weaponry supplied by Western nations such as the U.S., the U.K., and France. This could potentially escalate tensions involving NATO member states.
“It’s totally irresponsible,” Blinken remarked during an interview with MSNBC on Thursday. He accused Putin of “rattling the nuclear saber” and emphasized that such a statement was poorly timed, coinciding with world leaders convening in New York for the UN General Assembly. Blinken urged the international community to focus on disarmament and non-proliferation rather than escalating threats.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov defended Putin’s remarks, explaining that the updated nuclear doctrine is meant to serve as a warning to Western nations supporting increased Ukrainian military aggression against Russia or its ally, Belarus. Peskov stated, “This is a signal warning to these nations of the consequences of their participation in an attack on our country.”
Putin has not provided a timeline for when these changes might take effect but has previously maintained a reserved stance on the use of nuclear weapons. In June, he reiterated his hope that a nuclear exchange between Russia and the West would never occur.
