Vladimir Putin denies western accusations of nuclear sabre-rattling

He noted that Russia’s nuclear doctrine is based on the so-called “launch on warning” concept, which envisages the country employing nuclear weapons in the face of an imminent nuclear attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the country’s nuclear arsenals as a deterrent factor in the conflict in Ukraine but demurred when challenged to make a pledge that Moscow would not be the first to use them.

Asked by a member of the presidential Human Rights Council to commit Russia to rule out a first strike, he responded that such an obligation might prevent Russia from tapping its atomic arsenal even if came under a nuclear attack.