US Changes Its Weapons Policy In Ukraine, Russia Is Ready To Formalize Nuclear Doctrine Changes As Needed

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. (Source: Maxim Bogodvid/brics-russia2024.ru/Host Photo Agency)

JAKARTA - Changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine have been drafted and will be formalized as needed, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, signaling Moscow's concern over the United States' latest decision on missile attacks from Ukraine.

"These changes have been formulated practically. Those changes will be formalized properly," Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin press secretary, told state news agency TASS in a statement published Tuesday.

Earlier, the Kremlin on Monday called the decision reported by President Joe Biden's administration to allow Ukraine to fire US long-range missiles at Russia a rash decision, warning Moscow would respond.

Russia, which started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine 1,000 days ago, has repeatedly warned the West is playing with fire by investigating what limits may or may not be tolerated by nuclear forces.

A few weeks before the US presidential election in November, President Putin ordered changes to the nuclear doctrine to declare any conventional attack on Russia assisted by nuclear powers could be considered a joint attack on Russia.

In September, President Vladimir Putin said that Western approval of the use of Kyiv's long-range missiles would mean "direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States and European countries in the war in Ukraine", as NATO's military infrastructure and personnel should be involved in targeting and firing the missile.

President Biden's decision to follow a months-long request by President Volodymyr Zelensky for the Ukrainian military to be allowed to use US weapons to attack Russian military targets far from its borders.

The US decision was largely a response to Russia's deployment of North Korean ground forces to complement its own forces, developments that have raised concerns in Washington and Kyiv, sources said.

Peskov told TASS on Tuesday Moscow was ready to normalize its relationship with Washington.

"But we can't dance alone," Peskov said.

"And we won't," he said.