Russia Lowers Threshold for Nuclear Response

Russian President Vladimir Putin finalized a revision to his nation’s nuclear doctrine on Tuesday, lowering the threshold for Russia to strike other countries with its unfathomably destructive weapons.

Full story: The move completed a process that Putin began in September when he ordered edits to the doctrine in response to Western discussions of permitting Ukraine to use long-range missiles on Russia.

On Sunday, the United States said it would allow Ukraine to hit targets in Russia with America’s Army Tactical Missile System.

• Russia warned this move could be met with strong retaliation.

Russia’s new doctrine says any attack on Russia or Belarus supported by a nuclear nation would be considered a “joint attack on the Russian Federation” and could warrant a nuclear response. Sovereignty-threatening conventional attacks and air attacks involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, drones and other flying vehicles could also draw nuclear retaliation.

• Ukraine struck Russia with U.S.-provided weapons for the first time on Tuesday, according to senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this was an escalation and advised the U.S. to study Moscow’s new nuclear doctrine.

Although Moscow’s move is noteworthy, its nuclear threats are not unusual. This doctrine merely threatens nuclear retaliation but stays away from committing to it.

Prophetic perspective: The Bible prophesies that Russia will use its nuclear weapons soon—whether on Ukraine or not. The increased nuclear threat shows that the stage is being set for the fulfillment of end-time Bible prophecies.

Learn more: Read our free booklet Russia and China in Prophecy.