US slams Russia's 'irresponsible rhetoric' on nukes as Moscow lowers strike threshold

The White House condemned Russia’s “irresponsible rhetoric” Tuesday after Vladimir Putin eased Moscow’s rules for nuclear strikes, but said it saw no need to change its own force posture.

“This is more of the same irresponsible rhetoric from Russia, which we have seen for the past two years,” a spokesperson for the US National Security Council told AFP.

Russia’s new nuclear doctrine, which Putin had outlined in September, significantly lowers the threshold for nuclear attacks. It allows for the usage of nuclear weapons even in response to a conventional attack on Russia.

More from World

Nepal's new PM pays homage to people died during the Gen Z protest in her first national address This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

The formalisation of the new nuclear weapons doctrine comes two days after US President Joe Biden reportedly authorised Ukraine to use long-range US weapons for attacks inside Russia. Under the new nuclear policy, such an attack would allow for the usage of nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, EU top diplomat Josep Borrell accused Russia on Tuesday of issuing “completely irresponsible” nuclear threats, after President Vladimir Putin broadened the scope for Moscow’s use of atomic weapons.

“It is not the first time that Putin plays the nuclear gamble,” the outgoing foreign policy chief told reporters following defense minister talks in Brussels on the 1,000th day of the conflict.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

“Russia has subscribed to the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won, and so must never be fought,” he said, warning that “any call for nuclear warfare is an irresponsibility.”

The EU talks — dominated by the need to ramp up support for Ukraine’s fight — came as Kyiv confirmed it had fired US-supplied long-range missiles into Russian territory, in what Russia said marked “a new phase” in the war.

Borrell had pressed member states ahead of time to align with Washington in allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia using donated missiles — something France appears to be considering.