Truss UK Prime Minister "Do Not Listen to Fake Threats"
Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, is speaking at a briefing held at the White House on the 25th (local time). (Photo by EPA)
[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] As Russia is conducting referendums to annex the entire occupied territories of Ukraine as its own territory, Western countries have intensified their response to Russia's nuclear threats and launched a full-scale offensive.
On the 25th (local time), Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor at the White House, appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation" and stated that the U.S. has conveyed to Russia that if Russia uses nuclear weapons, the U.S. and its allies will respond firmly.
He said, "We made it clear to Russia that the use of nuclear weapons would lead to 'catastrophic consequences' and what kind of outcomes would follow." He added, "Because this could be the first use of nuclear weapons since World War II, President Putin's nuclear threats must be taken very seriously."
The New York Times (NYT) evaluated that the White House's use of the word 'catastrophic' is a clear example of how much the U.S. has escalated its response to Russia, which is currently on the defensive in the Ukraine war.
At the end of May, U.S. President Joe Biden warned in an op-ed for the NYT, "If any scale of nuclear weapons is used in this war, neither the U.S. nor the world will tolerate it, and there will definitely be serious consequences."
U.S. officials believe the likelihood of nuclear weapons being used in the Ukraine war is low, but they acknowledge that the risk of nuclear weapon use has increased compared to the early stages of the war in February and March, as President Putin is losing confidence.
Ukrainian Soldiers Rejoicing Over Recapturing Russian-Occupied Territory (Photo by Reuters) [Image Source=Yonhap News]
In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Advisor Sullivan also revealed that high-level talks have taken place through unofficial channels between U.S. and Russian authorities regarding Russia's nuclear weapon threats. Sullivan assessed that President Putin's military mobilization order, annexation referendums in occupied territories, and nuclear threats are "not signs of strength or confidence but the opposite," and "these are signals that Russia and President Putin are struggling."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed concern, saying, "President Putin's nuclear threats may have been bluster yesterday, but they could become reality tomorrow," and "(Putin) wants to shock the entire world."
British Prime Minister Liz Truss warned in an exclusive interview with CNN, "Do not pay attention to Vladimir Putin's show of force and fake threats."
When asked how Western leaders should respond if President Putin expands military activities in Ukraine, Prime Minister Truss said, "We must continue to sanction Russia and support Ukraine." She added, "President Putin made a strategic mistake by invading Ukraine and did not anticipate the strong backlash from the free world."
Earlier on the 21st, President Putin issued a military mobilization order, hinting at the possibility of using nuclear weapons. Following this, referendums on joining Russia are being held until the 27th in four Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
According to local media such as TASS News Agency, an exit poll of 500 residents from the Zaporizhzhia region after the first day of voting showed that 93% supported annexation. The Russian parliament is expected to approve and formalize the annexation as early as the 30th. Russia previously formalized the forced annexation of Crimea in 2014 through a referendum.
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