Russia could modify its military doctrine, introducing the possibility of a "pre-emptive strike" to disarm the enemy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday (Friday) in response to a question from a reporter in Bishkek who asked him to clarify recent statements about the use of nuclear weapons.
Days after warning that the risk of nuclear war is growing but Russia would not strike first, Putin said Moscow was considering adopting Washington's "pre-emptive strike" doctrine.
"First of all, it was the US that developed the doctrine of a pre-emptive strike," Russian President Putin told reporters after concluding his visit to Kyrgyzstan. Moscow should perhaps consider adopting the "ideas developed by the Americans for shielding their security," he continued, before adding: "we are just thinking about it."
Russia's president argued that his country's cruise missiles and supersonic systems are "more modern and more effective" than those of the United States.
On Wednesday, Putin assured that Moscow would "under no circumstances" use nuclear weapons first.
Commenting on the Russian president's statements, the US State Department had stressed that "any reference to nuclear weapons, however vague, is absolutely irresponsible."
The spectre of possible nuclear war returned to the forefront after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, demonstrating the erosion of the global security architecture, which dates back to the Cold War era.
The Agence France-Presse (AFP) points out that Russia's recent military failures on the Ukrainian front have raised fears that Moscow is considering resorting to its nuclear arsenal.
Source: APM
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