Russia's Intelligence Chief Ensures NATO Assistance For Ukrainian Missile Attacks Will Be Punished

JAKARTA - Russia will retaliate against NATO countries that facilitate long-range missile attacks against Russian territory by Ukraine, foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin said in an interview published on Wednesday.

Naryshkin said the changes announced by President Vladimir Putin against Russia's nuclear doctrine meant it was impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield.

"Our enemies are forced to recognize that the Russian president's determination to firmly defend the country's fundamental interests by all available means narrows the space for Washington and Brussels," he told National Defense magazine.

"Efforts by NATO allies to participate in providing a possible long-range attack with distant Western weapons on Russian territory will not escape punishment," he stressed.

Ukraine used US ATACMS missiles to attack Russian territory on Tuesday, utilizing a newly granted permit from US President Joe Biden's upcoming government.

On the same day, President Putin approved a policy document lowering the threshold for Russia to use nuclear weapons in response to enemy attacks that use conventional weapons.

"The military-political elites in the West are increasingly aware of Russia's seriousness and the need for greater self-control in their actions to avoid involvement in direct military conflict with our country, which could result in catastrophic consequences for them," Naryshkin said.

The US National Security Council said it had not seen any reason to adjust to the US nuclear posture. However, Naryshkin said the Russian changes, which Putin first announced in September, had been "precisely welcomed" in the West.

"They understand that the adjustments announced by VV Putin have largely undermined the efforts of the United States and NATO to cause a'strategic defeat' to our country, and the expansion of the list of reasons for the effective use of nuclear weapons excludes the possibility of victory over the Russian Armed Forces on the battlefield," he said.