Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that Ukraine’s use of Western missiles could be seen as an attack by a non-nuclear state backed by nuclear support, potentially justifying Russia’s use of nuclear weapons.
Peskov confirmed that Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine, signed earlier in the day by President Vladimir Putin, allows for this scenario. He pointed to a section of the doctrine that classifies any aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear state with nuclear backing as a joint attack.
When asked about the timing of the doctrine’s publication, Peskov clarified that the changes had been in preparation for some time. He described the updated doctrine as “extremely important,” highlighting its role in reinforcing nuclear deterrence by making clear the inevitability of retaliation in case of aggression against Russia or its allies.
Peskov reiterated that Russia views nuclear weapons as a deterrent and intends to use them only as a last resort.
In relation to US-Russian ties, Peskov dismissed the idea of lifting sanctions on Florida Senator Marco Rubio, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for Secretary of State, as an act of goodwill. Peskov noted that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also under sanctions, stressing the importance of reciprocity in such matters. Rubio has faced sanctions from Russia since May 2022 and China since August 2020.
