RT-Engels: 04-01-2025,
Washington is worried Moscow could consider using nuclear weapons, despite the Kremlin saying it views them as a “last resort”
The United States is “very concerned” that Russia could be considering the use of nuclear weapons, outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with Financial Times published on Saturday.
His comments came in response to questions about Moscow’s alleged “nuclear sabre-rattling,” apparently referring to changes it made in its nuclear doctrine last year.
Russia announced updates to its nuclear doctrine after deliberations by Ukraine’s Western backers, including the US, on whether to allow Ukraine to use foreign-made weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia.
In November, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved changes to the doctrine, expanding the list of conditions that could trigger a nuclear response. The updates include scenarios where aggression by a non-nuclear state or group of states, supported by a nuclear state, could be viewed as a “joint attack.” The document, however, describes nuclear weapons as “an extreme and forced measure” and stresses Moscow’s goal as preventing tensions that could lead to military conflicts, including nuclear ones.
Blinken said Washington views the changes as heightening the risk of nuclear escalation.
“Even if the probability went from 5 to 15%, when it comes to nuclear weapons, nothing is more serious,” Blinken stated. He had previously criticized Russia’s plans to update its doctrine as “irresponsible” when first announced last September.