fears have exploded after President has warned he is ready to launch an immediate nuclear response if attacks his country, echoing similar remarks by .
, arguably ’s closest international ally, was commenting on reports that .
Speaking yesterday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified the recent updates to ‘s nuclear doctrine, as announced by Putin, serve as a warning to nations that might consider attacking , even with non-nuclear weapons.
The Russian President has emphasised that any conventional strike on , backed by a nuclear state, would be interpreted as a coordinated attack.
His new stance appears intended to deter Western countries from supplying with long-range weapons and signals a reduced threshold for potentially using its nuclear capabilities.
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Vladimir Putin Meets Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk (Image: Getty)
Speaking with students in Minsk in remarks attributed to him by the state-aligned , Lukashenko said: “I said at the patriotic forum on September 17 that an attack on Belarus would be the third world war.
“Putin recently confirmed this, amending the nuclear doctrine, that an attack on and Belarus would mean we would use nuclear weapons. He confirmed my words. This was the essence of my statement.”
Lukashenko emphasised: “As soon as they attack us (NATO is NATO – the Americans and Poles – they have already lined up along the border, especially the Polish one.
“We know that the Polish leadership is already rubbing its hands), we use nuclear weapons. And gets involved for us.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Image: Getty)
“We will use nuclear weapons – they can respond to us. And against as well.
“Therefore, will use its entire arsenal. And this is already a world war.
“The West does not want this either. They are not ready for this. But we tell them frankly: the red line is the state border.
“If we step on it – the response will be immediate. We are preparing for this. I am speaking about this honestly and openly.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised Putin’s statement as “totally irresponsible,” saying on MSNBC that “many in the world have spoken clearly about that when he’s been rattling the nuclear saber, including China in the past.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Image: Getty)
“To do that now while the world’s gathered in New York, including talking about the need for more disarmament, nonproliferation, I think that’s going to play very badly around the world,” Blinken said, referring to the meeting of the General Assembly.
European Commission spokesman Peter Stano similarly criticised Putin’s statements about the nuclear doctrine as “a continuation of the very irresponsible and unacceptable behaviour” by the Russian leader, showing that “he doesn’t shy away from playing the nuclear gamble over and over again.”
is gradually advancing in as the conflict enters its third year, while the Kremlin aims to deter stronger Western support for Kyiv. In response to Russian attacks, has launched missile and drone strikes on Russian territory.