The recent U.S. decision to provide permission to use long-range missiles to Ukraine has escalated the ongoing conflict with Russia, bringing the world closer to the brink of nuclear war. By allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, President Biden’s administration has provoked a direct response from Moscow, with President Vladimir Putin signing a new nuclear doctrine that drastically lowers Russia’s threshold for nuclear retaliation.
The Kremlin has long warned that further U.S. involvement in the Ukraine conflict would lead to dangerous consequences. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that any U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russia’s sovereign territory would represent a “qualitatively new situation” and a direct escalation. This shift has prompted Russia to revise its nuclear doctrine, now declaring that any attack on Russian soil, even with the involvement of a nuclear power, could trigger nuclear retaliation.
This revision of Russia’s nuclear doctrine is a clear signal to the West that the Kremlin views the current situation as a critical turning point. The new policy allows for the potential use of nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks supported by nuclear powers, a significant shift from prior doctrine, where Russia reserved nuclear use primarily for retaliatory purposes.
The Biden administration’s justification for this escalation is that Ukraine needs these weapons to defend itself against Russia’s aggression. However, the provision of long-range missiles raises the stakes of the war significantly. Critics argue that this strategy increases the risk of direct conflict between the U.S. and Russia, with catastrophic consequences for global security. By providing Ukraine with powerful weapons capable of striking Russian territory, the U.S. risks triggering a nuclear response.
Russian officials, including those within the Russian government, have voiced concerns that this U.S. action is a reckless provocation. Some conservative voices in the U.S., including allies of former President Donald Trump, have warned that Biden’s decision could lead to World War III. They argue that the administration’s actions are unnecessarily risking nuclear escalation by pushing Russia into a corner.
The danger of miscalculation is real. As both Russia and the U.S. take increasingly bold steps, the likelihood of a catastrophic conflict increases. With both sides bracing for a possible nuclear confrontation, the international community must find ways to de-escalate the situation before it is too late.
