Washington: Russia’s chances of using nuclear weapons are very low US intelligence The official said on Thursday, despite previous saber-rattling from the Kremlin and the heavy casualties that Mosco is enduring in its invasion of Ukraine.
“It’s very unlikely, is our current assessment,” Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Nuclear tensions between Russia and the United States have escalated since the start of the conflict with Ukraine, with Putin repeatedly warning that Russia will use its nuclear arsenal if necessary to protect its “territorial integrity”. ready for.
In February, Putin announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the New start treatyThe last remaining nuclear weapons agreement with the United States, which limits the number of strategic weapons each side can deploy.
Haines did not elaborate on the US intelligence community’s assessment.
US officials have said for months that they have not seen signs that Russia is preparing to employ nuclear weapons, but have warned that they are being cautious.
Last month, a top US diplomat said publicly that the United States and its NATO allies need to be alert for signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be using a strategic one. nuclear weapon In the “managed” escalation of his war in Ukraine.
Deputy US Secretary of State Wendy Sherman pointed to Putin’s March 25 announcement that Russia was preparing to deploy strategic nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus as “his attempt to use this threat in a managed way.”
Yet, there have also been assurances of nuclear restraint from Moscow.
Last week, the Kremlin rejected the idea that Russia could be preparing to test nuclear weapons, saying all nuclear states are adhering to a moratorium on nuclear weapons tests.
“It’s very unlikely, is our current assessment,” Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Nuclear tensions between Russia and the United States have escalated since the start of the conflict with Ukraine, with Putin repeatedly warning that Russia will use its nuclear arsenal if necessary to protect its “territorial integrity”. ready for.
In February, Putin announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the New start treatyThe last remaining nuclear weapons agreement with the United States, which limits the number of strategic weapons each side can deploy.
Haines did not elaborate on the US intelligence community’s assessment.
US officials have said for months that they have not seen signs that Russia is preparing to employ nuclear weapons, but have warned that they are being cautious.
Last month, a top US diplomat said publicly that the United States and its NATO allies need to be alert for signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be using a strategic one. nuclear weapon In the “managed” escalation of his war in Ukraine.
Deputy US Secretary of State Wendy Sherman pointed to Putin’s March 25 announcement that Russia was preparing to deploy strategic nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus as “his attempt to use this threat in a managed way.”
Yet, there have also been assurances of nuclear restraint from Moscow.
Last week, the Kremlin rejected the idea that Russia could be preparing to test nuclear weapons, saying all nuclear states are adhering to a moratorium on nuclear weapons tests.