Ukraine war latest: Kyiv launches attack on Russian military facility with US long-range missiles, Moscow says

The White House sees no need to change its own nuclear doctrine, officials say, after Vladimir Putin formally lowered the threshold for Russia’s use of nuclear weapons.

A US National Security Council official told Reuters they were not surprised by Putin’s decision.

As such, the Biden administration has “not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture or doctrine in response to Russia’s statements today”.

Still, the official said the White House criticised Putin’s “irresponsible rhetoric” after he decided to theoretically allow a potential nuclear response to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power.

Similar comments have been made by the European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell.

“It is not the first time that they threatened with nuclear escalation, which is completely irresponsible,” he said.

“Russia has subscribed to the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won, and so it must never be fought.”