Statement from Ernest J. Moniz on Russia’s Announcement of an Updated Nuclear Doctrine

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced today a revision to Russia’s nuclear doctrine that dangerously lowers the threshold for nuclear use by asserting a right to use nuclear weapons in response to aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear weapon state “with the participation or support of a nuclear weapon state.” This is the latest in a series of statements and steps taken by President Putin since the Russian war on Ukraine that have elevated the risk of nuclear war to levels not seen since the darkest days of the Cold War.

By expanding the role of nuclear weapons in its doctrine and undermining the security assurances provided to non-nuclear weapon states, Russia dangerously undermines the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which remains the cornerstone of global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to additional countries. Moreover, the updated doctrine introduces dangerous new uncertainties about Russia’s policies and military responses which will exacerbate the risk of miscalculation and a wider conflict. Russia’s use of nuclear threats to intimidate the international community from supporting Ukraine’s legitimate right to defend itself is unacceptable.

World leaders—including those who maintain good relations with Moscow—must be united in making clear to President Putin that any use of a nuclear weapon would be unacceptable and a strategic error with catastrophic consequences, not least for Russia itself.

In the face of Russia’s dangerous and reckless policy announcement, it is imperative that all nations— and especially the nuclear-weapon states—reaffirm their commitment to the ultimate goal of nuclear disarmament, as required by the NPT, and their recognition that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. If Russia—or any other country—were to use a nuclear weapon, what follows would be unpredictable with devastating impacts for all of humanity. No country can be confident it would be unaffected; all have an interest in putting the world on a safer path.