Russia`s nuclear "umbrella" applies primarily to CSTO member-states -  Sergei Shoigu

ArmInfo. According to the updated nuclear doctrine, Russia's nuclear "umbrella" applies  primarily to the countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), said Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu.

"First, I want to say that the old doctrine also provided for this  umbrella, as you say, including our allies.  This was clearly and  distinctly stated. As for the new doctrine, naturally, it primarily  concerns the CSTO countries. There is a separate addition, quite  important, in my opinion, it concerns Belarus," he noted on the  sidelines of a joint meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the  Council of Defense Ministers and the Committee of Secretaries of the  CSTO Security Councils in Astana.

According to Shoigu, the criteria for using nuclear weapons when  aggression against Belarus is carried out with conventional weapons  and when there is a threat to the very existence of the republic are  now prescribed in doctrine, Interfax reports.

On November 19, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree approving  the updated Fundamentals of Russian State Policy in the Field of  Nuclear Deterrence.