The danger of “Armageddon,” according to President Biden, has increased to its greatest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis as Russian authorities hint at the prospect of utilizing tactical nuclear weapons in the wake of devastating defeats in Ukraine.
Since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis, we have not been threatened with Armageddon, Mr. Biden remarked at a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Later, he referred to Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, as “a man I know very well.” “His military is, you could say, considerably underperforming, so he’s not kidding when he speaks about the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons, or biological, or chemical weapons.”
Although Mr. Biden’s words were the sternest warnings the U.S. administration has ever voiced about the nuclear dangers, officials have been warning for months about the possibility that Russia may deploy WMD in Ukraine as it has seen a string of tactical losses.
However, as late as last week, American authorities said they had not seen any modification to Russia’s nuclear arsenal that would have necessitated a change in the alert state of American nuclear weapons.
According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “We have seen no need to modify our own strategic nuclear posture, nor do we have information that Russia is ready to deploy nuclear weapons imminently.”
According to experts, the closest the world has ever gone to nuclear devastation was during the 13-day conflict that ensued in 1962 when the U.S. learned that the Soviet Union had secretly deployed nuclear weapons to Cuba.
On both sides of the Iron Curtain, the crisis that occurred during President John F. Kennedy’s presidency refocused attention on weapons control.
In addition, Mr. Biden criticized the Russian nuclear doctrine and cautioned that the deployment of a tactical weapon with a smaller yield might soon become deadly and result in worldwide annihilation.
According to Mr. Biden, there is no such thing as an easy way to deploy a tactical nuclear bomb without causing Armageddon.
Mr. Biden said in a speech to Democratic fundraisers that he was still “trying to figure” out Putin’s “off-ramp” in Ukraine.
The president questioned, “Where does he discover a route out?” Where does he end up that he not only loses face but also a significant amount of power?
Putin has often hinted at utilizing his nation’s sizable nuclear weapons, most recently when he revealed intentions to enlist Russian forces to fight in Ukraine last month.
Putin stated on September 21 that he wanted to “remind you that our nation too possesses numerous means of devastation… and when the territorial integrity of our country is challenged, to defend Russia and our people, we will absolutely use all the means at our disposal.” He continued, “It’s not a bluff.
Jake Sullivan, the national security advisor for the White House, said last week that the United States has informed Russia of the “consequences” of deploying nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
“We are aware of this, taking it very seriously, and directly engaging with Russia about it,” Sullivan said. “This includes the type of forceful reactions the United States would have if they proceeded down that dark path.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, said earlier on Thursday that Putin was aware that a nuclear attack by Russia would be “never forgiven” by the rest of the world.
Zelenskyy said, “He recognizes that he would no longer be able to save, so to say, his life following the deployment of nuclear bombs.