Putin says Russia reserves right to use nuclear weapons if Belarus is attacked

Published September 25,2024

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Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned on Wednesday that his nation reserves the fitting to make use of nuclear weapons ought to an assault happen on neighboring Belarus, its ally within the battle on Ukraine.

“We reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Russia or Belarus,” Putin mentioned throughout a Russian Security Council assembly in Moscow on nuclear deterrence, indicating that this difficulty has been agreed upon with Minsk.

Asserting this proper, Putin cited Belarus as a member of the Union State the 2 international locations based beneath a 1999 treaty beneath which they’ve labored to maneuver nearer, a course of that has accelerated in recent times.

Putin mentioned that a variety of clarifications to Russia’s nuclear doctrine have been proposed following work by the nation’s Defense and Foreign ministries, in addition to different departments, over the previous yr.

He mentioned that within the up to date model of the doctrine, “aggression” in opposition to Russia by any non-nuclear state, with the participation or help of a nuclear nation, will likely be deemed a joint assault on Moscow.

“The conditions for Russia’s transition to the use of nuclear weapons are also clearly stated. We will consider this possibility upon receipt of reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack weapons and their crossing of our state border,” Putin added.

The statements got here as Ukraine has reportedly been pressuring the U.S. to permit it to launch assaults deeper into Russian territory because it continues to combat off the battle Moscow launched on it over 2 1/2 years in the past.

In 2020, Putin outlined when Moscow might make the most of its nuclear arsenal after signing an govt order on its nuclear deterrence coverage.

The doctrine permits Moscow to make use of nuclear weapons on the situation of a nuclear assault by an enemy or a standard assault that threatens Russia’s existence.

Earlier this month, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov advised state news company Tass that work on updating the nation’s nuclear doctrine is at an “advanced stage,” and that that there’s a “clear directive to make adjustments.”