KYIV: Following Russia’s foreign minister’s statement that territories staging sharply contested referendums would receive full protection in the event of Moscow’s annexation of those regions, the United States has warned of “catastrophic consequences” if Moscow uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
Voting to absorb territory that Russia has seized by force was held on a third day in four eastern Ukrainian regions. Within a few days, the Russian parliament could take action to formally annex the territory.Moscow might portray attempts to recover Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia as attacks on Russia itself, sending a warning to Kyiv and its Western backers.
Russian officials have been warned of the “catastrophic repercussions” if they deploy nuclear weapons against Ukraine, according to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.According to Sullivan, “if Russia exceeds this threshold, there will be devastating consequences for Russia,” on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “The United States will act swiftly in response.”
