Washington CNN –
President Joe Biden issued a stark warning Thursday about the dangers behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats as Moscow continues to face military setbacks in Ukraine.
“For the first time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have a direct threat to use (a) nuclear weapon if, in fact, things continue on the way they are going,” Biden warned during remarks at a fundraiser Democratic fund in New York, where he was. presented by James Murdoch, the youngest son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, according to the pool report.
He added: “I don’t think there is any such thing as the ability to easily use a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon.”
It’s striking that the president speaks so bluntly and invokes Armageddon, especially at a fundraiser, while his National Security Council aides at the State Department and the Pentagon have spoken in much more measured terms, saying they take the threats seriously, but they don’t. I see no movement in them from the Kremlin.
“I’m trying to figure out what Putin’s exit ramp is?” Biden said during the event: “Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position where he not only loses face, but loses significant power within Russia?
His comments come as the United States considers how to respond to a range of potential scenarios, including fears that the Russians could use tactical nuclear weapons, according to three sources briefed on the latest intelligence and previously reported by CNN.
Former US defense secretary says in unlikely event Putin resorts to nuclear weapons, he could use that weapon
Officials have warned as recently as Thursday that the US has not detected preparations for a nuclear attack. However, experts see them as potential options for which the US must prepare as Russia’s invasion falters and as Moscow annexes more Ukrainian territory.
Pentagon spokesman Brig. said: “This nuclear saber withdrawal is reckless and irresponsible. Gen. Pat Ryder said earlier Thursday. “As I mentioned before, at this stage, we have no information that would cause us to change our strategic posture of deterrence, and we do not assess that President Putin has made the decision to use nuclear weapons at this time.”
After Biden’s remarks, officials emphasized to CNN Thursday night that they had seen no change in Russia’s nuclear stance.
A US official said that despite Biden’s warning that the world is closer to a nuclear crisis since the 1960s, they have seen no change in Russia’s nuclear posture so far. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday that there has been no indication of a change in Russia’s stance, and therefore no change in the US stance remains. said the official.
A senior US government official expressed surprise at the president’s remarks, saying there were no obvious signs of a growing threat from Russia.
While there is no doubt that Russia’s nuclear posture is being taken seriously, this official said the president’s language at a fundraiser tonight caught other government officials off guard.
“Nothing was detected today that would reflect an escalation,” said the official, who defended Biden’s remarks because of the seriousness of the matter.
At the fundraiser, Biden spoke clearly about the threat officials believe Russia poses, a person familiar with his thinking told CNN.
Still, US officials have taken grim note of the Russian president’s repeated public threats to use nuclear weapons. In a televised speech late last month, Putin said: “If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will certainly 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 regions of Ukraine, Putin said Russia would use “all available means” to defend the areas, adding that the US had “created a precedent” for nuclear attacks in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.
“We have a guy that I know pretty well,” Biden said of Putin on Thursday. “He’s not kidding when he talks about the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military, you could say, is very underperforming.”
This story has been updated with additional information.