President Vladimir Putin will chair a meeting of Russia’s Security Council on Wednesday to discuss nuclear deterrence, according to the Kremlin. The meeting comes as Moscow evaluates its response to Ukraine’s appeals for Western-supplied long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. The war, now in its third year, has strained relations between Russia and the West, reaching a level not seen since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
Key Security Meeting with Nuclear Focus
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the upcoming meeting an “important event,” noting that while Putin will deliver a public address, much of the discussion will remain classified. The meeting is expected to review Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which outlines the conditions under which the country might resort to using nuclear weapons.
Nuclear Doctrine Under Review
As tensions with the West escalate, Russia is reportedly revisiting its nuclear strategy. Speculation has grown about whether the Kremlin will abandon its long-standing moratorium on nuclear testing. However, Russia’s arms control representative reaffirmed that Moscow would not conduct nuclear tests unless the United States does so first.
The Ukraine War and Rising Nuclear Risks
Ukraine’s calls for Western long-range missiles have increased pressure on Moscow to reassess its military strategies. The ongoing conflict, marked by severe confrontations between Russia and Western powers, has led to heightened concerns over nuclear escalation. Many analysts have drawn comparisons between the current standoff and the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the world came closest to nuclear conflict.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
