Russia will make changes to its doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons in response to what it regards as Western escalation in the war in Ukraine, state media quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Sunday.

The existing nuclear doctrine, set out in a decree by President Vladimir Putin in 2020, says Russia may use nuclear weapons in the event of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the state.

Some hawks among Russia’s military analysts have urged Putin to lower the threshold for nuclear use in order to “sober up” Russia’s enemies in the West.

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      • orclev@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        China would just wait until it’s over and then pick through the remains of Russia. Probably try to claim a big chunk of southern Russia using some excuse or another.

        • Notyou@sopuli.xyz
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          2 months ago

          Well it’s not southern Russia’s northern China’s fault that some mad man in Moscow used a nuke. China will just be generous and help lead the clean up in wonderful north north China.

        • empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 months ago

          Ehh. They’d make a beeline for every natural resource bearing region inside Russia’s borders. The whole south-western Russian region will turn into a clusterfuck free for all that I doubt they’d want to get involved with, but any mining and oil/gas centers east of the Urals will be priority one.

          Empty land is not terribly useful for China right now, although large portions of siberia will likely become arable in the next 50 years. but the dragon is always hungry.

        • rusticus@lemm.ee
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          2 months ago

          China would be dealing with nuclear radiation fallout across much of its country.

          • Nutteman@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Unless they are dropping ground detonations there wouldn’t me much. Most nuclear detonation would be airbursts because it’s more destructive than a ground blast. Ground blasts cause major fallout.

    • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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      2 months ago

      If Russia uses their nukes, about 30 minuites later there won’t be a Russia left to sever ties with.