An ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Monday that Russia has “modern and unique weapons capable of destroying any enemy, including the United States.”
Russian Security Council head Nikolai Patrushev made outrageous statements in the state-run newspaper Rossisskaya Gazeta, according to Reuters.
“U.S. politicians trapped in their own propaganda are convinced that in the event of a direct clash with Russia, the U.S. could launch preventive missile strikes, after which Russia could no longer respond. It’s stupid and very dangerous,” Patrushev said.
“Russia is patient and does not threaten anyone with its military superiority. But if a threat to its existence arises, it has modern and unique weapons capable of destroying its enemies, including the United States,” he said. added.
Russia’s latest nuclear threat condemned by NATO
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) meets with Security Council Head Nikolai Patrushev in Moscow in June 2017. (Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentieff/Kremlin/Reuters)
Patrushev’s comments came after NATO pushed back against Putin on Sunday, calling the move “dangerous and irresponsible” after Putin announced that he would transfer tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu told Reuters: “NATO is vigilant and is monitoring the situation closely. We have not seen any change in Russia’s nuclear posture and that is our own adjustment.” will lead to,” he said.
Similarly, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday that US defense officials see no signs that Putin has begun to reposition his tactical nuclear weapons.
“In fact, there was no indication that he had any intention of using nuclear weapons inside Ukraine,” he added in an interview with CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday.
Ukraine Calls for Emergency UN Conference Over Putin’s ‘Nuclear Blackmail’ in Belarus
Head of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev attends a meeting in Moscow on March 15, 2023 (Sputnik/Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERS)
Ukraine responded to the news by calling for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and accusing Russia of taking “another provocative step” to undermine “the entire international security system.”
On Saturday, Putin sparked international outrage after he said he would transfer tactical nuclear weapons to his main regional ally, Belarus, in response to Britain’s decision to supply Ukraine with ammunition containing depleted uranium. rice field.
In another swipe in the US last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the Western reaction to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow as “extremely hostile.”
“Undoubtedly, the most important thing is not the reaction of the West, but the result of the talks that took place. The main thing is the result of the state visit itself,” Peskov said, according to state-run Tas News. agency.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping toast at a dinner at Facet’s Palace in Moscow, March 21, 2023. (Pavel Byrkin/Sputnik/Kremlin pool photo/AP)
“As for the reaction of the West, it has been unfriendly and highly hostile on virtually every issue, and this is no secret to anyone,” he added. “Reports of this important visit are no exception.”
Secretary of State Antony Brinken denounced Xi’s visit as China providing “diplomatic cover” for “atrocities” Russia is committing in Ukraine.
Caitlin McFall of Fox News contributed to this report.
