Russian threat of changed nuclear doctrine

Russia intends to change its doctrine for nuclear weapons, according to the country's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. He tells the state-controlled news agency Tass that it will be done as a response to what he claims is the "Western opponents' escalation" in connection with the war in Ukraine.

Ryabkov, however, does not provide any timeline for when the change can take place, or what it will entail.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has previously stated that the doctrine is a living document that can be changed as needed, and that Moscow assumes that there will never be an exchange of nuclear strikes, according to Tass.