Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that “clarifications” have been proposed regarding his country’s doctrine of using nuclear weapons, something he has repeatedly promised since the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Putin hinted in a meeting with his advisors, the facts of which were reported on television, that Russia might use nuclear weapons if any country attacked it, adding that any conventional attack on it with the support of a nuclear force would be considered a joint attack.

Putin said: “It was proposed that an aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered tantamount to a joint attack on the Russian Federation,” in an apparent reference to Ukraine. He also stressed that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against it and against Belarus as well.

Putin announced that Russia would consider the “possibility” of using nuclear weapons in the event of a “massive launch” of aircraft, missiles, or drones on its territory, at a time when Kiev is trying to persuade the West to allow the use of long-range missiles in the context of the conflict with Moscow. Putin said during: “We will consider such a possibility if we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air attack means and their crossing of our state borders. I am referring to strategic and tactical aviation, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic aircraft and other aircraft.”

Putin's statements came while chairing a meeting of the Russian Security Council today regarding nuclear deterrence, while Moscow is considering how to respond to Ukraine's requests that the United States allow it to bomb deep into Russian territory with Western long-range missiles.

Putin, the key decision-maker regarding Russia's massive nuclear arsenal, is considering how to respond if Washington and its European allies allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied missiles to strike deep into Russia.

The Russian President said on September 12 that if the West gave that permission to Kiev, it would have entered into direct combat against Russia, which would be forced to take “appropriate decisions.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been urging Kiev's allies for months to allow it to launch Western missiles, such as long-range American Atakms and British Storm Shadows, deep into Russian territory to limit Moscow's ability to launch attacks.

Russia is the largest nuclear power in the world. Together with the United States, it controls 88% of the world's nuclear warheads.

Russia is currently reviewing its nuclear doctrine, which specifies the circumstances under which it may resort to using nuclear weapons.

The Kremlin said that any discussions about an alternative to the New START treaty between the United States and Russia, which limits nuclear weapons and expires in 2026, must take into account European nuclear capabilities, which means the arsenals of Britain and France.