Russia warns use of nuclear weapons in case of West aggression

Shoigu's comments came after US President Donald Trump's statements, and JD Vice President Vance, who warned that Washington could withdraw from efforts to resolve a peace settlement in Ukraine if there is no progress in negotiations on an agreement.

Shoigu's threat is the first of its kind made by a senior Russian official since last December.

Shoigu explained that, under recent changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, “Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against it or the Republic of Belarus, including the use of conventional weapons”.

The senior Russian official added that Russia is carefully monitoring the actions of the European states and, in the case of non-friendly “operations that threaten the sovereignty and integrity of the Russian territory, the country will take “symmetrical and asymmetric measures necessary to prevent these actions and ensure that they are not repeated.

He also stressed that nuclear prevention target states and military coalitions that consider Russia a potential threat and possess weapons of mass destruction or a significant conventional military capacity.

Earlier, on December 19, 2024, President Vladimir Putin had made it known that Russia could use nuclear weapons against nations that are not nuclear if they pose a threat to Russian sovereignty. /Periscope/