The following key changes to the nuclear doctrine were first announced in September and signed into law today:

Aggression against the Russian Federation and its allies by a non-nuclear country with the support of a nuclear state will be considered a joint attack;

Russia’s readiness and determination to use nuclear weapons will ensure nuclear deterrence;

Russia may use nuclear weapons in the event of a critical threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of itself and Belarus;

The updated nuclear doctrine defines the adversary against whom nuclear deterrence is conducted;