Russia’s war against Ukraine: ++ Biden sees no signs of nuclear weapons use ++


live blog

Status: 02/23/2023 03:34 am

US President Biden currently sees no signs of a Russian use of nuclear weapons. UN Secretary-General Guterres denounces Russia’s “attack on our collective conscience.” All developments in the live blog.

3:34 a.m

Guterres denounces Russian “attack on our collective conscience”.

Shortly before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, UN Secretary-General António Guterres denounced Moscow’s actions as an “attack on our collective conscience.” “The first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine represents a dark milestone – for the Ukrainian people and for the international community,” Guterres told the UN General Assembly in New York. “This invasion is an attack on our collective conscience.”

The Russian attack affects not only Ukraine but the whole world, Guterres said. He referred to around eight million refugees and the global food and energy crisis. “The possible consequences of an escalation of the conflict are a real danger,” Guterres warned. He referred to “indirect threats” of the use of nuclear weapons and “irresponsible” military actions in the vicinity of nuclear power plants. “It is high time to move away from the abyss,” demanded the UN chief.

3:34 a.m

Biden sees no signs of Russian nuclear weapons use

Despite Moscow’s suspension of the “New Start” nuclear disarmament agreement, US President Joe Biden currently sees no signs of a Russian use of nuclear weapons. The suspension of the agreement announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin was “a serious mistake,” Biden told ABC News on the sidelines of his visit to Poland. “But I don’t read into it that he’s thinking about using nuclear weapons or anything like that.”

In a state of the nation speech on Tuesday, Putin said Russia was suspending its participation in the New Start treaty. However, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow later qualified the statement and stated that the country would continue to “strictly adhere to the quantitative limits for strategic offensive weapons” during the term of the treaty, which runs until 2026.

source site