The White House Responds to Putin's Nuclear Weapons Statement

The U.S. has taken seriously Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement about using any means at Moscow's disposal to defend its territorial integrity. This was stated by John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, during an interview with ABC News.

However, Kirby emphasized that Washington currently does not see the need for raising the readiness of its strategic deterrent forces. “This is irresponsible rhetoric for a nuclear power... We take this seriously, and as much as we can, we monitor their strategic configuration to adjust ours if necessary. At this moment, we see no signs that this is required,” Kirby said.

Recall that Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on Wednesday, after talking about partial mobilization in a televised address, that he believes in the support of the country's citizens. “It is in our historical tradition, in the fate of our people, to stop those who seek global domination, who threaten to divide and enslave our homeland, our country. We will do it now, too. And that’s how it will be. I believe in your support,” Putin concluded.

According to him, Washington is pushing Kyiv to carry out military operations on Russian territory and is already employing nuclear blackmail. “In Washington, London, and Brussels, there is direct encouragement for Kyiv to move military operations to our territory. No longer hiding, they say that Russia must be defeated on the battlefield by all means, which will be followed by the economic, political, cultural, and overall deprivation of any sovereignty, with the total plundering of our country,” Putin stated.

“Nuclear blackmail has also been put into play,” Putin emphasized. The Russian President explained that this is not only about the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which carries the risk of nuclear disaster, but also about statements from some senior representatives of leading NATO countries regarding the possibility and permissibility of using weapons of mass destruction—nuclear weapons—against Russia.