Fri Sep 27 05:32:12 UTC 2024: ## Putin Threatens Nuclear Response to Western Support for Ukraine
**MOSCOW** – Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to the West, stating that Russia would consider any attack by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack, potentially triggering a nuclear response.
Putin’s statement, delivered during a televised address on Wednesday, represents a significant escalation of tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine. The Russian president has been hinting at changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine for months, and this latest announcement appears to be a direct threat to nations like the US who are providing military aid to Ukraine.
The comments come amid growing pressure on the US to approve the delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine, which Kyiv hopes to use to target military bases inside Russia. Putin’s statement can be seen as a direct attempt to deter further military support for Ukraine and intimidate the West into backing down.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is currently on a visit to the US, has criticized Putin’s remarks as “nuclear blackmail” and has called on the international community to stand firm against Russian aggression. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also condemned Putin’s statement as “totally irresponsible.”
While Russia’s allies, including China, have called for calm, Putin’s announcement underscores the increasingly volatile situation in Ukraine and the heightened risk of escalation. The Kremlin has stressed that the potential changes to its nuclear doctrine are meant to serve as a warning to the West, emphasizing the consequences of further involvement in the conflict.
The news comes as Zelensky is meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington, where a major show of support for Ukraine is expected. The Ukrainian president has repeatedly stated that his country needs to be “very strong” to force Russia to the negotiating table.
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