PM Starmer Calls Changes In Russia's Nuclear Doctrine Not Blocking Britain's Support For Ukraine

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday Britain's support for Ukraine would not be hindered by Russia's 'unresponsible' rhetoric, after President Vladimir Putin approved a threshold drop for nuclear attacks.

"There are irresponsible rhetoric coming from Russia, and that will not hinder our support for Ukraine," he told reporters at the G20 Brazilian summit.

President Putin's new nuclear doctrine lowered the threshold where Russia could use atomic weapons to respond to attacks that threaten its territorial integrity.

The move comes as Ukraine uses US ATACMS missiles to attack Russian territory on Tuesday, leveraging a newly granted permit from the Biden administration that will end on the 1,000th day of war.

Responding to the milestone in the conflict, PM Starmer said President Putin was "the cause of his own exile" because he did not attend the G20 leaders' summit for the third year in a row.

"I say again (to Putin): end the war, get out of Ukraine," said Prime Minister Starmer.

Previously, the United States was not surprised by the drop in Russia's nuclear strike threshold and did not plan to adjust its own nuclear posture in response, the White House said on Tuesday.

"Due to no change in Russia's nuclear stance, we see no reason to adjust our own nuclear stance or doctrine in response to Russia's statement today," the White House statement said.