WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Russia is again threatening the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine, as the country lowers its own threshold for when it might use those kinds of weapons.
Russia’s move comes in response to a shift in U.S. policy regarding conventional U.S. made missiles in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, the White House gave Ukraine the greenlight to use powerful, long-range U.S. missiles against military targets inside Russia.
In response, Russia says it will now consider using nuclear weapons against a country using conventional weapons against Russia, if that country is supported by a nuclear armed state.
“We aren’t surprised by Russia’s update to its nuclear doctrine. It’s something that they’ve been signaling that they intend to update,” said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.
For years, the U.S. refused to allow its weapons to hit targets on Russian soil fearing escalation by Russia but the arrival of North Korean troops supporting Russia changed that calculation.
“By bringing in another foreign country into the battlefield, by bringing in, you know, over 11,000 DPRK soldiers into the fight. That is an escalatory action,” said Singh.
U.S. officials say Russia has been threatening to use nuclear weapons since the invasion began almost three years ago.
“It’s the same irresponsible rhetoric that we’ve seen before,” Singh added.
Despite Russia’s renewed nuclear saber-rattling, the White House says it’s not changing its own nuclear policy.
“We don’t have any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon within Ukraine, and we don’t see any, you know, we don’t see any changes that need to be made to our own nuclear posture as well,” said Singh.
This week the U.S. also allowed Ukraine to start using U.S. made anti-personnel landmines to slow Russian movements within Ukraine.