Washington said it took Putin’s words about the possible use of nuclear weapons seriously and promised a response.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric on the use of nuclear weapons has changed, they say in the West. However, they warned that if it is used in Russia, serious consequences await. The former commander of US forces in Europe, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, speaks of a “crushing blow,” while NATO states that they intend to prevent a nuclear strike in principle. Correspondent.net telling the details.
How the United States assessed Putin’s nuclear threats
The United States takes Putin’s words about the possible use of nuclear weapons seriously, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a briefing on Wednesday.
“It’s not like he’s been saying for the past seven months,” he explained, adding that Washington is monitoring Russia’s strategic forces and is ready to respond if necessary. “So far we don’t see any indication that this is necessary,” Kirby said.
Later, in a speech at the UN General Assembly, US President Joe Biden spoke about Putin’s nuclear blackmail and his war against Ukraine.
“A permanent member of the UN Security Council invaded its neighboring country in an attempt to remove a sovereign state from the map. Russia has shamelessly violated the foundations of the UN charter. Putin has again threatened Europe with nuclear weapons. And now Russia is recruiting even more soldiers, Russia is trying to organize a fake referendum. And this is a direct violation of the UN charter,” he said.
Biden also rejected the Kremlin’s thesis, which Putin uses to justify a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, about an alleged threat to Russia.
“No one threatened Russia, and no one except Russia is looking for this conflict. We warned that this conflict will happen. We tried to avoid it, but he himself spoke in a way that there was no doubt. Putin said that Ukraine created by Russia. “And I quote, there never was a real state. Dozens of schools, hospitals, cultural centers and museums were destroyed. We have seen more horrific crimes – mass graves, bodies with signs of torture. The purpose of this war is to destroy the Ukrainian state, to destroy the rights of Ukrainians.” to a separate people,” said the American leader.
The US wants to end this war on fair terms, Biden added: “So, each of us is committed to clearly and unambiguously stating: Ukraine has the rights that every sovereign country has. Will we are one in Ukraine, we will fight Russian aggression – period.”
What is happening in the Russian Federation after the announcement of mobilization
The day before, Biden said that the use of tactical nuclear or chemical weapons by Russia on the territory of Ukraine would have consequences for him.
“There will be consequences. They will be more outcasts in the world than before. And depending on the scale of what they do, we will determine what the answer will be,” said the head of the White House.
The United States will respond to Russia’s use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine with a “brutal blow” of retaliation against Russian military bases or Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, now considered a leading military expert, said on September 21.
“He [Путин] he knows the US will have to respond if Russia uses nuclear weapons. The US response may not be nuclear, but it could, for example, destroy the Black Sea Fleet or Russian bases in Crimea. Therefore, I think that President Putin and his entourage do not want to drag the United States directly into the conflict,” the British newspaper Mail Online quoted him as saying.
Putin warned about the consequences of using nuclear weapons
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Putin’s nuclear rhetoric dangerous and reckless. In an interview with Reuters, he said the organization would do everything possible to convey to Moscow the weight of such statements.
Putin’s speech about mobilizing with nuclear threats Stoltenberg called an escalation, but not a surprise. “We will remain calm and continue to support Ukraine,” he said.
According to the Secretary General of the alliance, while there has been no change in the readiness of Russia’s nuclear forces, NATO is monitoring the situation.
The alliance will ensure that the Russian government understands how NATO intends to respond, Stoltenberg assured. The actions of the alliance depend on under what conditions or what weapons Russia will use, the main goal of NATO is to prevent the use of nuclear weapons.
“That is why we have been clear in our communications with Russia about the unprecedented consequences,” he said.
Putin appreciates his strength in starting the war in Ukraine, and his latest statements are clear evidence of this, believes the Secretary General of NATO. According to him, sending hundreds of thousands more people to the front will complicate not only the conflict, but also the position of the Russian army. Russian troops are underequipped and lack proper command and control, Stoltenberg said.
He believes that the only remaining way to end the conflict is to prove to Putin that Russia “will not win on the battlefield.” NATO Secretary General added: “Once he understands this, he should sit down and discuss a reasonable agreement with Ukraine.”
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.