The White House stated that there were no indications that Moscow was prepared to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, despite President Vladimir Putin’s readiness to deploy them if Russia’s sovereignty was threatened. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described Russia’s nuclear rhetoric as “reckless” since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Jean-Pierre emphasized that there was no reason to adjust the US nuclear posture or evidence that Russia was preparing to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. She noted that Putin’s comments seemed to be a restatement of Russia’s nuclear doctrine during an interview.
Russia’s nuclear arsenal was praised by Putin, who warned of deploying the weapons if Russia’s sovereignty was at risk. The Kremlin has been highlighting its nuclear capabilities during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with Putin’s remarks coinciding with upcoming elections in Russia.
Despite recent Russian advances, President Biden announced a $300 million emergency weapons package to support Ukraine, while further aid is blocked by the US Congress. The White House reiterated its support for Ukraine in defending against Russian aggression, which was described as brutal and unjustified.
