SECURITY: US Off.-Russia Has Been 'Signalling Nuclear Intentions' For Some Time

For the first time, some comments emerging from the US side regarding the escalating rhetoric after Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed changes to his country's 'nuclear doctrine', setting out the parameters for the use of nuclear weapons. Wires reported an unnamed Biden administration official saying that the 'US is not surprised by Russia's nuclear announcement', says 'Russia has been signalling [its] nuclear intentions [for some time]' and that it is 'more of the same irresponsible Russian rhetoric'. 

• Speaking at the G20 summit in Brazil, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that 'Russia's position is that nuclear war won't happen'. Claims that the ATACMS strike on Bryansk 'proves the US wants escalation'. Says 'We are convinced that [a] nuclear weapon is a deterrent'. Lavrov says that Russia 'favours making every effort to prevent nuclear war'. Says that Russia's nuclear doctrine is 'no different from the US'.
• At each apparent 'escalation' in the conflict to date on the Western side (provision of battle tanks, provision of jets, now allowing strikes on Russian territory) there has been increased Russian talk about the use of nuclear weapons. However, as NYT notes "for all the strident rhetoric, the war in Ukraine largely appears to be going Mr. Putin’s way — and Western officials have previously said that they would be most worried about Moscow’s using nuclear weapons if the Russian military is on its back foot."