Putin Lowers Nuclear Weapon Use Threshold

President Vladimir Putin has approved changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for nuclear weapon use. This update allows Russia to consider nuclear retaliation against non-nuclear states backed by nuclear-capable allies, escalating tensions with the West following Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles inside Russian territory. The U.S. and NATO allies have expressed concern over this shift, with U.S. officials labeling it as a symbolic yet alarming move. China has called for restraint, emphasizing dialogue to reduce strategic risks. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot dismissed Putin's actions as mere rhetoric, while Turkey's President Erdogan criticized the U.S. decision to enable Ukraine's long-range strikes, warning it could further inflame the conflict.