Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued yet another blunt warning to the United States and its NATO allies, that the escalating NATO attack on Russia has led Moscow to “refine” their nuclear doctrine—which today permits the use of nuclear weapons only if first attacked with enemy nukes, or if Russia’s existence as a sovereign nation is otherwise threatened.
Lavrov told journalists during an Aug. 27 joint press conference with Foreign Minister Shaya Mohsen Al-Zindani of the Aden-based government of Yemen: “I think that it is important to understand in this situation that we have our own doctrine, including the one governing the use of nuclear weapons. An effort to update it is underway. Moreover, these Americans are well aware of the provisions it sets forth.” He did not further specify how the standing policy would be “refined.” This is the same press conference where Lavrov characterized as “blackmail” Ukraine’s demand that it be allowed to use Western weapons to strike Moscow and St. Petersburg.