Hungarian PM warns Russia’s nuclear strategy shift to have serious consequences

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that the adjustment of Russia's nuclear strategy and President Vladimir Putin's statement regarding the testing of the "Oreshnik" hypersonic ballistic missile are not mere words.

"These are serious issues that demand thoughtful consideration and a response from Western nations," Orban said, emphasising that when the Russian president speaks, it is not idle talk—it carries weight and consequences, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media. 

"When Russia changes the rules for the use of nuclear weapons, known as its doctrine, it's not just a communication tactic or a trick—it has been changed, and there will be consequences," he said. 

He also noted that Russia's decision to revise its nuclear doctrine will have significant repercussions. Orban reminded that before the conflict in Ukraine, Russia approached NATO with a request for guarantees that Ukraine would not join the alliance, only to receive a harsh response.

Orban further emphasised that Europe must act with awareness and caution before the inauguration of the new US president, or risk facing serious challenges. 

Earlier, President Putin officially signed a decree outlining the key principles of Russia’s updated nuclear deterrence strategy. The new doctrine, published on the official website of legal acts, marks a significant revision of Moscow’s nuclear policy. 

The decree was first proposed by Putin on September 25, and the approved version expands the range of states and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence. The revised doctrine also alters the criteria under which Russia would consider an attack to have occurred, providing the Kremlin with broader justification for a potential nuclear response. The adjustments to the nuclear doctrine reflect a shift in Russia's strategic posture, broadening the circumstances under which Moscow might resort to nuclear weapons. This move is expected to further intensify international concern about the security implications of Russia’s nuclear strategy.

By Naila Huseynova