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DailyExpertNews
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President Joe Biden issued a stark warning on Thursday about the dangers behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats, as Moscow continues to experience military setbacks in Ukraine.
“For the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis, we have a direct threat of the use of (a) nuclear weapon if things actually continue as they are,” Biden warned during remarks at a Democratic fundraiser in New York. where he was introduced by James Murdoch, the youngest son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, according to the polar report.
He added: “I don’t think there is such a thing as the ability to easily (use) a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon.”
It is striking for the president to speak so candidly and invoke Armageddon, especially in a fundraising campaign, while his aides from the National Security Council to the State Department have spoken to the Pentagon in much more moderate terms and say they take the threats seriously. , but don’t do that. see no movement on them from the Kremlin.
“I’m trying to find out where Putin is off the slope?” Biden said at the event: “Where will he find a way out? Where is he in a position of not only losing face but also significant power within Russia?”
His comments come as the US considers how to respond to a range of possible scenarios, including fears that Russians could use tactical nuclear weapons, according to three sources briefed on the latest intelligence and previously reported by DailyExpertNews.
Officials warned on Thursday that the US has not discovered any preparations for a nuclear attack. However, experts view them as possible options for the US to prepare for as the Russian invasion falters and Moscow annexes more Ukrainian territory.
“This rattle of nuclear sabers is reckless and irresponsible,” said Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gene. Pat Ryder said earlier Thursday. “As I have mentioned before, we have no information at this stage that could lead us to change our strategic deterrent stance, and we do not estimate that President Putin has made a decision to use nuclear weapons at this point.”
Following Biden’s comments, officials insisted on Thursday evening to DailyExpertNews that they had not seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear stance.
A US official said that despite Biden’s warning that the world has been closest to a nuclear crisis since the 1960s, they have so far seen no change in Russia’s nuclear stance. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday there is no indication of a change in Russia’s stance and therefore there is still no sign of a change in US stance, the official said.
A senior US administration official expressed surprise at the president’s comments and said there were no clear signs of an escalating threat from Russia.
While there is no doubt that Russia’s nuclear stance is being taken seriously, this official said the president’s language caught other officials in the government tonight during a fundraising campaign.
“Nothing was discovered today that indicates an escalation,” said the official, who defended Biden’s comments because of the continuing seriousness of the matter.
At the fundraiser, Biden spoke clearly about the threat officials think Russia poses, one person familiar with his mindset told DailyExpertNews.
Still, US officials have gloomily taken note of the Russian president’s repeated public threats to use nuclear weapons. In a televised address late last month, Putin said: “If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will no doubt use all available means to protect Russia and our people. This is not a bluff.”
Last Friday, at a ceremony announcing the illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions, Putin said Russia would use “all available means” to defend the areas, adding that the US had “set a precedent” for nuclear attacks in the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.
“We have a man I know pretty well,” Biden said of Putin on Thursday. “He’s not kidding when he talks about the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military is, you could say, significantly under-performing.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
