Washington warns Moscow of firm response if nuclear weapons are used

Washington warns Moscow of firm 

response if nuclear weapons are used

Washington warned Russia of catastrophic consequences of the use of

 nuclear weapons in Ukraine and threatened a firm response, continuing to

spell constant threats since the start of

the Russian operation, and recalled its support for Kyiv.

Speaking to ABC TV, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said : 

We have directly and secretly conveyed to the Russians at a very high level that

 the consequences for them would be catastrophic if they used nuclear 

weapons in Ukraine, we have been frank with them and we have stressed that

the United States will respond strongly, along with our allies and partners.

He said :

• They understand what they will face if they continue down this dark road.

• We have made it clear what the consequences will be

• but we are eager to talk about it publicly. 

The Russian leadership's nuclear bluster, Sullivan said

was taken seriously by the US, but Kiev would still provide military support.

He said:

We take President Vladimir Putin's speech seriously. 

This is not the first time that the President has made nuclear threats in

this conflict, he began moving his nuclear forces in February when Russian

tanks first crossed the border, but this has not prevented us from transferring

more than $15 billion in military support to Ukraine

which has helped them defend themselves, and his speech will not stop us now. "

Russian Foreign Affairs: Russia does not threaten anyone with nuclear weapons

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that Russia does not threaten anyone with nuclear weapons, but cautions against interfering in the special military operation.

During a symposium in Moscow on Friday, Ryabkov said : 

We have noted Washington's convulsive reaction to the instructions of (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to transfer Russian deterrence forces to the special regime of combat rotation. 

We make it quite clear that 

we are not posing a nuclear threat to anyone.

and the criteria for their use are stipulated in the military doctrine as defined in the document "Foundations of Russia's nuclear deterrence policy" of 2 June 2020.

"At the same time 

we warn of the dangers of Western intervention in Ukraine's special military operation, and urge the US administration to avoid a situation that could lead to a direct military clash with Russia."

Ryabkov noted that Washington had already destroyed the conventional arms control regime and was deliberately lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, which posed a threat to Russian security, and was also modernizing its "destabilizing" nuclear arsenal.

Ryabkov stressed that an open confrontation with the United States and NATO

which may turn into a direct military clash, is not in our interest. We hope that the Biden administration will also recognize the risk of an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict in Ukraine ".

Ryabkov described Russian 

• American relations in a state of "extremely deplorable"

• and  near zero, equivalent to the worst of the cold war, levels.

• Russia would respond appropriately

including unequally

 to Washington's approach to exerting maximum pressure on Moscow.