Russia’s changing nuclear doctrine and the panic of European countries.
According to Reuters, after the US and its partners permitted Ukraine to target deep inside Russian territory with weapons donated by the West, Moscow changed its nuclear doctrine and announced that any attack on Russian territory with conventional weapons could be responded to with nuclear weapons.
Accordingly, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil in response to Russia’s recent action: “We have recently witnessed irresponsible rhetoric about nuclear weapons from senior Moscow officials. These statements will not prevent us from supporting Ukraine.”
He added: “We are witnessing the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not attending the G20 summit for the third consecutive year. He has isolated himself with his actions.”
Other European officials have also reacted to Russia’s recent threats in response to provocations by Western countries. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also said after the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, that “changing Russia’s nuclear doctrine will not cause us to be intimidated or afraid.”