In a Sept. 25 statement, Putin expanded scenarios that could trigger Russian nuclear response. These included reliable intelligence about a large-scale, cross-border attack using aircraft, missiles or drones. He also stressed that any attack against Russia backed by nuclear power would be treated like a joint assault. The Kremlin move was a response to discussions that took place in the U.S., U.K. and other countries about allowing Ukraine long-range conventional weapons from Western sources to strike deep into Russian territories. Lukashenko said that “this doctrine should have been renewed many years ago.” Last year, he and Putin agreed to station Russian tactical nukes in Belarus. He warned that if it wasn’t for Putin’s early nuclear signals, “Western rockets would have already bombed us, particularly Russia.” Ukraine has called Russia’s nuclear posture blackmail. President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western leaders to ignore Putin’s “redlines.” Moscow insists on the sincerity of its warnings. Putin warned the U.S., its allies and the European Union that if they approve the use of long-range rockets by Ukraine, then they will be directly involved in the war against Russia.
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