The US has warned Russia of the consequences of an attack with these weapons

Biden says Putin is considering using chemical weapons in Ukraine

photo_camera REUTERS/TOM BRENNER - US President Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden has claimed that Vladimir Putin is considering using chemical and biological weapons in Ukraine. "His back is against the wall," Biden said, recalling Russia's recent accusation that the US possessed such weapons in Europe. "They are also suggesting that Ukraine has chemical and biological weapons. That's a clear signal that Putin is considering using both types of weapons," Biden said. 

The remarks come after Russian Defence Ministry officials since the beginning of the month spread "unproven information" that Kiev has a US-backed chemical weapons programme and was planning an attack to blame Moscow for such weapons as part of the invasion.

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Against this backdrop of accusations, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev of the consequences of "any possible Russian claims of using chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine". Joe Biden referred to these consequences as a "severe", but even indefinite, response from Western allies.

It is precisely this response, among other issues, that will be among the topics to be discussed at the meeting of European and NATO leaders in Brussels, where Biden will travel on Thursday. In addition to the NATO summit, the US president is scheduled to take part in a meeting with representatives of the European Union and another with the G-7 to discuss the invasion of Ukraine.

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Russia's possible use of chemical and biological weapons as part of the war in Ukraine would lead the Kremlin to bypass international treaties that prohibit their use because of the serious human harm they cause. However, this threat has been present since Putin invaded Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned last week that Russia was looking for a pretext to use chemical weapons in Ukraine, after pointing to the Kremlin's "lies" about the development of biological laboratories in Ukraine. Stoltenberg thus indicated that Russia was planning a false flag attack to use chemical weapons in Ukraine, recalling the use of chemical agents against political opponents and support for such practices in Syria.

These reports are not the only false accusations made by Russia so far. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhail Podoliak has accused Russia of trying to justify its aggression with false accusations of attacks by the Ukrainian army.

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The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to stall on most fronts, with Russian troops still unable to take control of any of the major cities. So much so that this morning Ukraine rejected Russia's ultimatum to surrender Mariupol. According to the Pentagon, "they have not achieved any of what we analyse as their objectives", even though they continue shelling and committing serious crimes against civilians. According to the Pentagon, this upsurge in Russian attacks may have to do with getting 'a better position at the Ukrainian-Russian negotiating table on a ceasefire'.

Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra

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