Biden warns Russia would pay ‘severe price’ for using chemical weapons in Ukraine

Joe Biden has warned that Russia would pay a “extreme worth” if it used chemical weapons throughout its warfare on Ukraine, though he declined to specify the character of any US response.

US officers have mentioned in latest days that Russia would possibly resort to using chemical weapons after first establishing a pretext by deploying them in a “false flag” operation and blaming it on Ukraine.

The US president was requested on Friday by a reporter if the US would reply militarily to using chemical weapons in Ukraine, however Biden didn’t say whether or not America’s response can be of a navy or financial nature.

“I’m not going to talk about the intelligence. However Russia would pay a extreme worth in the event that they use chemical weapons,” he mentioned.

Biden has repeatedly mentioned that the US wouldn’t be drawn right into a direct battle with Russia over Ukraine, ruling out sending American troops to defend the nation, or implementing a no-fly zone with US pilots and fighter jets.

However it’s unclear if that calculation would possibly change ought to Russia’s techniques change into much more brutal, resembling by way of using weapons of mass destruction.

Throughout a press briefing on Thursday, White Home press secretary Jen Psaki recommended that the US place that it might not change into immediately engaged in warfare with Russia had not shifted.

“We’re conveying to all of you what the capability and the capabilities of Russia are, what steps they’ve taken prior to now [with chemical weapons]. Let’s hope we’re not having a dialogue about that,” Psaki mentioned.

“However the President and our Nato companions haven’t modified their evaluation about their plans to ship US troops in,” she added.

A senior US defence official mentioned on Friday that the “Russians have had, and we assess that they nonetheless have, a complicated chemical and organic weapons program”.

However the official declined to supply particulars about any potential Russian plans to make use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, saying he wouldn’t focus on US intelligence assessments.

Nevertheless, the official mentioned the administration had determined to speak in regards to the concern publicly after Russia claimed with out proof that the US had helped Ukraine develop a organic and chemical weapons programme.

“We’re speaking about it as a result of they’re mendacity about it,” the official added.

Biden’s feedback got here as Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian consultant to the UN, accused the US and Ukraine of hatching a plot to unfold organic weapons and “harmful pathogens” all through Europe with birds, bats and bugs.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the UN, rebuffed the declare, which was made throughout a session of the UN Safety Council on Friday.

“The intent behind these lies appears clear and it’s deeply troubling,” mentioned Thomas-Greenfield. “We consider Russia may use chemical or organic brokers for assassinations as a part of a false flag incident or to assist tactical navy operations.”