The Pentagon has seen “no indication” that Russia is considering using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, according to a senior defense official.
During Russia’s nearly eight weeks since invading Ukraine, there has been the fear that Russia could resort to using a small nuclear weapon, but the Pentagon does not believe that such deployment is “imminent,” the official told reporters on Tuesday.
“We’ve seen no indications that the use of nuclear weapons is in play or is imminent in any way,” the official explained. “We watch this as closely as we can every single day. And as you’ve heard me say before, we’re confident that we have the right strategic deterrent posture in place.”
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Later in the day, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said it’s something they “monitor virtually every day, particularly in light of the escalatory rhetoric that Mr. Putin voiced in the early days of this war,” and he added that they’ve seen “no reason to change our strategic deterrent posture.”
Putin placed Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert days after invading Ukraine in late February. Since then, Kremlin officials have said that an “existential threat” to the country could force Russia’s hand to deploy its nuclear arsenal.
Last week, CIA Director William Burns warned about the possibility that Russia could resort to using a nuclear weapon if its military offensive continues to be unsuccessful, though he noted they hadn’t seen “a lot of practical evidence” to indicate the threat is getting more likely.
“Given the potential desperation of President Putin and the Russian leadership, given the setbacks that they’ve faced so far militarily, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or low-yield nuclear weapons,” Burns explained.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was asked about Burns’s comments during a television interview, and he warned, “All of the countries have to be worried” about a possible nuclear event.
Russia also threatened to utilize its nuclear arsenal near the Baltic Sea if Finland and Sweden apply to join NATO, but allies in the region disregarded the legitimacy of the threat.
