Putin has approved a new nuclear doctrine, stating that a missile attack on Russia is one of the conditions for using nuclear weapons.

This is reported by Russian propaganda agencies TASS and RBK.

The document stipulates that aggression against Russia and its allies by a non-nuclear nation, with the support of a nuclear state, will be regarded as a joint attack. Russia may use nuclear weapons "in the event of a critical threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of itself and Belarus."

The decision to use nuclear weapons must be made by Putin himself, and among the conditions for such a decision is the use of ballistic missiles against Russia.

Subsequently, Putin's representative Dmitry Peskov explained that updating the nuclear doctrine was necessary to align it with the "current situation."

Moreover, he added that if the Ukrainian Armed Forces use Western non-nuclear missiles against Russia, then according to the doctrine, Russia may deliver a nuclear response, as quoted by TASS.

The nuclear doctrine in Russia was approved against the backdrop of media reports claiming that U.S. President Joe Biden allowed Ukrainian forces to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory.

Recall that the planned changes to the nuclear doctrine were mentioned by the Russian leader back in September after a meeting of the permanent Security Council on nuclear deterrence in Russia.

At that time, he stated that Russia might consider the use of nuclear weapons after a massive strike from aerospace attack means and crossing the border. Specifically, this concerns strategic and tactical aviation, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic, and other aircraft.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin is "not always adequate," but "loves his life." Therefore, he is unsure whether the Russian leader would be able to use nuclear weapons.