Putin steps up WW3 threats
Kremlin warns the West of 'consequences' if it joins attacks on Russia in new sabre-rattling after lowering threshold of when it can launch nuke strikes
Vladimir Putin yesterday announced plans to update Russia's nuclear doctrine
By Matt Strudwick and Will Stewart
Vladimir Putin's move to update Russia's nuclear doctrine and allow Moscow to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states should be seen as a warning of 'consequences' to the West, the Kremlin has declared.
The Russian President on Wednesday announced plans to broaden Russia's rules on the use of its fearsome arsenal, allowing it to unleash a nuclear response in the event of a 'massive' air attack.
The proposals would also permit Moscow to respond with nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states, where they were being supported by nuclear powers - a thinly veiled reference to Ukraine and its Western backers.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the planned changes 'must be considered a specific signal that warns these countries of the consequences if they participate in an attack on our country by various means, not necessarily nuclear,' Peskov told reporters.
The proposed changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, which Putin himself has the power to approve, come as Ukraine is seeking permission from Western allies to use long-range precision weaponry to strike targets deep inside Russia - so far to no avail.
The West has accused Putin of irresponsible nuclear sabre-rattling throughout the Ukraine conflict, with the Kremlin leader having issued multiple apparent threats about Moscow's willingness to deploy its nuclear weapons.
The expansion of the policy comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the US to present his 'victory plan' and press the case to use long-range missiles on targets inside Putin's territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the Security Council meeting on nuclear deterrence at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024
A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired as part of Russia's nuclear drills from a launch site in Plesetsk
A devastating nuclear strike on London causing 850,000 deaths with two million injured was simulated by a staunchly pro-Putin propaganda TV channel
Russia's current published nuclear doctrine, set out in a 2020 decree by Putin, says Russia may use nuclear weapons in case of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the state.
In comments yesterday, Putin said Russia reserved the right to use nuclear weapons if it or ally Belarus were the subject of aggression.
'Aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is treated as a joint attack on the Russian Federation,' he said.
Will Putin go nuclear? From incinerating London to drowning Britain under a radioactive tidal wave, how Vladimir has threatened the West with Armageddon since the first day of his Ukraine invasion
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Adding to Putin's statement, Kremlin press secretary Peskov said today that Russia's 'nuclear deterrence is being adjusted on account of elements of tension that are developing along the perimeter of our borders'.
He also said there was 'no question' of Russia boosting its nuclear arsenal.
Peskov said a decision had not been made yet on whether the Kremlin would publish the updated doctrine following Putin's comments.
But the European Union today rejected Putin's efforts to amend Russia's nuclear doctrine as as 'reckless and irresponsible'.
'Not for the first time, Putin is playing (a) gamble with his nuclear arsenal,' EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano told reporters. 'We of course strongly reject these threats.'
Russia is making slow but steady gains in Ukraine as the conflict grinds through its third year, and the Kremlin is seeking to discourage stronger Western support for Kyiv.
Ukraine's ambassador Valerii Zaluzhnyi this week issued a fresh plea to use Western long-range weapons to strike Russian territory, saying they are 'critically important' for Kyiv's success.
He warned it was a 'critical time' for allies to show 'fortitude' and 'patience' in bolstering Ukraine's defence, as Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged allies to show 'guts'.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Zaluzhnyi insisted that lifting restrictions on the weapons would be crucial to Kyiv's defence.
The expansion of the policy comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the US to present his 'victory plan' and press the case to use long-range missiles on targets inside Putin's territory
Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for when Russia can launch a nuclear strike in a chilling new threat to the West
Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) holds a meeting of the Security Council on nuclear deterrence at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 25 September 2024
Russia tests its deadly hypersonic 208-ton 15,880 'Satan-2' intercontinental ballistic missile
Is Putin bluffing?
Yes
No
Not sure
This week, a devastating nuclear strike on London causing 850,000 deaths with two million injured was been simulated by a staunchly pro-Putin propaganda TV channel.
Broadcasting the four minute video with an English commentary appears to be the latest move in a concerted campaign to scare Britain from giving permission to Ukraine to allow Storm Shadow missiles to hit targets inside Russia.
Putin's propagandists and entourage have repeatedly warned that he could use nuclear weapons.
The video shown on Tsargrad's Telegram channel begins by threatening: 'Imagine for a moment that the unimaginable happens.
'A nuclear weapon explodes over London. In this documentary, we explore the devastating consequences of this catastrophe.
'In the simulation, we will use a warhead with a yield of 750 kilotons. That's a pretty powerful charge.'
'Anything trapped inside this fireball is instantly vaporised.
'In our simulation, the epicentre of the explosion is at Westminster.
'People within that radius won't even feel anything because the nerve impulse transmission speed is slower.
'Within 5 km [3 miles] of the epicentre the blast radius city of London, Camden town, Kensington, Brixton these areas will receive the most destruction.'
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address at the Gostiny Dvor conference centre in central Moscow on February 29, 2024
October 2022 YARS missile launch
'Buildings will be destroyed and debris will fill the streets, creating extremely dangerous conditions for everyone in the vicinity.
'Given the population density in central London, the initial death toll could exceed 250,000 people and around 600,000 injured within a radius of 10 km [6.25 miles] the radiation will cause third degree burns.
'Within that radius anything that can burn will catch fire.'
Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East continue to be strained with US President Joe Biden saying the region is now on the cusp of 'all-out war'.
Israel is preparing to open a second front with a ground invasion of Lebanon, while continuing with its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Israel and Hezbollah's burgeoning conflict took a dramatic turn overnight as army chief Herzi Halevi told troops to 'prepare' themselves to strike into Lebanon behind the salvoes of rockets continuing to pound Hezbollah strongpoints.
Mediators have scrambled to find a way to stop the conflict from spilling over into a much larger war amid fears Iran - a key ally of Russia - and its other proxies could be dragged in.
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