On the 1,000th day of the war in Ukraine, Putin permits the wider use of nuclear weapons.

According to the new doctrine, if nuclear powers back a non-nuclear state, Russia may use nuclear weapons against that state.

Moscow: In a direct message to the West and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an edict on Tuesday that expands the range of situations in which Moscow may deploy nuclear weapons.

The action follows the United States' approval of Kyiv's employment of long-range missiles to hit military targets within Russia, and it comes on the 1,000th day of Russia's offensive against Ukraine.

According to the new doctrine, if nuclear powers back a non-nuclear state, Russia may use nuclear weapons against that state.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that "aggression by a non-nuclear state with the participation of a nuclear state is considered as a joint attack," making a direct allusion to Ukraine and its Western supporters.

According to Peskov, the update is a "very important" document that should be "studied" overseas. "It was necessary to bring our principles in line with the current situation," he continued.

According to him, Russia "has always viewed nuclear weapons as a means of deterrence," and they would only be used if Russia felt "forced" to react.

Throughout the nearly three-year campaign against Ukraine, Putin has made a number of nuclear threats, raising concerns in the West over language it has denounced as dangerous.

In the event of a "massive" air attack, the new strategy now permits Moscow to respond with nuclear weapons, even if it only employs conventional ones.

Peskov described the proposed modifications as a "warning" to anyone considering taking part "in an attack on our country by various means, not necessarily nuclear" when the Kremlin originally announced them in September.

The new doctrine will also extend Moscow's nuclear umbrella to Belarus, a close ally.

On the 1,000th day of the fight, Peskov declared that the "collective West" had launched a "war" against Russia and promised that Moscow would carry out its "special military operation" to the end.