'No Indication' That Russia Preparing To Use Nuclear Weapon — State Department

Washington D.C./28.03.23/Turan:    The Biden administration said on Monday that it hasn't seen any indication that Russia is considering the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, and will not adjust its own nuclear posture as such, TURAN's Washington correspondent report.

"We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic posture, nor any indication that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon," State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told a daily press briefing in response to TURAN's questions.

"We are going to continue to coordinate and consult closely with our allies and call on Russia to de-escalate, starting by ceasing its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine," he said.

Patel's comments came in reaction to Vladimir Putin's announcement over the weekend that Belarus could house Russian tactical nuclear weapons by the beginning of summer.

“No country is threatening Russia or threatening President Putin,” Patel said.

Despite Putin’s rhetoric, no other nation had ever threatened the use of nuclear arms over the ongoing war in Ukraine, nor sought to escalate the conflict, Patel added.

The White House in its turn said on Monday that it will continue to monitor the situation "very, very closely,” as National Security Council spokesman John Kirby put it during a conference call with reporters.

Alex Raufoglu