Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree approving Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine. The decree, published on the Kremlin website, stated that aggression by any state in a military coalition or bloc against Russia or its allies is seen as aggression by the entire bloc as a whole. It said, the aggression from a non-nuclear state, with the involvement or support of a nuclear power, will be regarded as a joint attack on Russia.

According to the document, Russia views nuclear weapons as a means of deterrence, to reduce the nuclear threat and prevent the escalation of interstate tensions that could lead to military conflicts, including nuclear ones. The revised doctrine further clarifies the states and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence.