Naryshkin called the West's reaction to the adjustment of Russia's nuclear doctrine cautious

The West was wary of Russian President Vladimir Putin 's decision to adjust the state's nuclear doctrine, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin said on November 20.

"President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin's statement on amending the 'Fundamentals of the State Policy of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear deterrence' was met with wariness by the West," he said in an interview with the National Defense magazine.

According to Naryshkin's assessment, Western politicians realize that the announced adjustments largely devalue the efforts of the United States and NATO, which are trying to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Russia.

In addition, the expansion of the list of possible grounds for the use of nuclear weapons actually excludes the possibility of defeating the Russian Armed Forces on the battlefield, the SVR chief pointed out.

Naryshkin added that Russia's opponents in such a situation are forced to recognize the narrowing of Washington and Brussels' room for maneuver because of the head of state's determination to firmly defend the country's fundamental interests. At the same time, attempts by some NATO member states to ensure possible long-range strikes by Western weapons deep into Russian territory will not go unpunished, he emphasized.

The director of the agency noted that the military and political elites of the West are becoming increasingly aware of the seriousness of Russia's intentions and the need to act more restrained in order not to get involved in a direct military conflict. Such a development could have catastrophic consequences for them, Naryshkin summarized.

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Putin approved Russia's updated nuclear doctrine the day before, on November 19. It includes the amendments announced in September. In particular, it introduces for the first time a definition of a potential adversary against whom Russia is conducting nuclear deterrence.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov specified that the measure brings the norms in this area in line with the current situation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also noted that Russia is strictly committed to the position of preventing nuclear war and defends a world in which nuclear weapons should never be used.

Commenting on the adoption of the document, the US State Department said that Washington had no plans to react to the changes. At the same time, it said that the United States and NATO "pose no threat to Russia.