Russia-Ukraine war: Putin signs decree allowing nuke strikes on nuclear power backed states

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (Nov 19) signed a decree allowing Moscow to use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear state, receiving backing from nuclear powers.

This contentious decree comes as the Russia-Ukraine conflict reaches the grim milestone of 1000 days of war and as the United States allows Kyiv to use long-range missiles to strike military targets inside Russia.

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Kremlin defends decision

In a statement, the Kremlin defended the decree, labelling it as "necessary".

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in a statement said that Russia broadening its rules for the use of nuclear weapons was a "necessary" response to what the country considers Western threats to its security.

"It was necessary to bring our principles in line with the current situation," he told reporters shortly after the Russian President signed the decree easing the conditions under which Moscow would consider launching a nuclear attack.

He also warned that the use of western non-nuclear missiles by the Ukrainian armed forces against the Russian Federation under the new doctrine could lead to a nuclear response.

Zelensky asks allies to 'push harder'

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Europe to "push Russia harder" as the Ukraine war marks its, 1000th day. 

Vowing that Ukraine will never give in to Russia's aggression, Zelensky told a special session of the European Parliament "The more time he (Russian President Vladimir Putin) has, the worse the conditions become". 

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Tuesday marks the 1,000 days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022. Zelensky warned that Putin "[would] not stop on his own" and urged that Russia be pushed towards a "just peace".

He added that the deployment of North Korean troops was a significant sign that Russia wanted to escalate the conflict. 

"While some European leaders think about some elections, or something like this, at Ukraine's expense, Putin is focused on winning this war," he warned.

(With inputs from agencies)