Risk of nuclear ‘Armageddon’ at highest level since ’62 crisis: Biden – National

President Joe Biden mentioned Thursday that the danger of nuclear “Armageddon” is on the highest degree because the 1962 Cuban Missile Disaster, as Russian officers communicate of the potential of utilizing tactical nuclear weapons after struggling large setbacks within the eight-month invasion of Ukraine.

Talking at a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee, Biden mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin was “a man I do know pretty properly” and the Russian chief was “not joking when he talks about the usage of tactical nuclear weapons or organic or chemical weapons.”

Biden added, “We’ve not confronted the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Disaster.” He recommended the menace from Putin is actual “as a result of his navy is – you may say – considerably underperforming.”

U.S. officers for months have warned of the prospect that Russia might use weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine because it has confronted a sequence of strategic setbacks on the battlefield. As just lately as this week, although, they’ve mentioned they’ve seen no change to Russia’s nuclear forces that will require a change within the alert posture of U.S. nuclear forces.

“We’ve not seen any purpose to regulate our personal strategic nuclear posture, nor do now we have indication that Russia is making ready to imminently use nuclear weapons,” White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned Tuesday.

Biden additionally challenged Russian nuclear doctrine, warning that the usage of a lower-yield tactical weapon might shortly spiral uncontrolled into world destruction.

“I don’t there’s any such a factor as the power to simply use a tactical nuclear weapon and never find yourself with Armageddon,” Biden mentioned.

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Talking to Democratic donors, Biden mentioned he was nonetheless “making an attempt to determine” out Putin’s “off-ramp” in Ukraine.

“The place does he discover a means out?” Biden requested. “The place does he discover himself ready that he doesn’t not solely lose face however lose vital energy inside Russia?”

Putin has repeatedly alluded to utilizing his nation’s huge nuclear arsenal, together with final month when he introduced plans to conscript Russian males to serve in Ukraine.

“I wish to remind you that our nation additionally has varied technique of destruction … and when the territorial integrity of our nation is threatened, to guard Russia and our individuals, we will definitely use all of the means at our disposal,” Putin mentioned Sept. 21, including with a lingering stare on the digital camera, “It’s not a bluff.”

White Home nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned final week that the U.S. has been “clear” to Russia about what the “penalties” of utilizing a nuclear weapon in Ukraine could be.

“That is one thing that we’re attuned to, taking very severely, and speaking straight with Russia about, together with the sort of decisive responses america would have in the event that they went down that darkish street,” Sullivan mentioned.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned earlier Thursday that Putin understood that the “world won’t ever forgive” a Russian nuclear strike.

“He understands that after the usage of nuclear weapons he could be unable any extra to protect, so to talk, his life, and I’m assured of that,” Zelenskyy mentioned.

Miller reported from Washington.