Speaking at a fundraiser in New York, late on Thursday, Biden said "first time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have a direct threat of the use (of a) nuclear weapon if in fact things continue down the path they are going." "We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since (era of the former president John) Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis," he stressed.
He reiterated "I don't think there's any such thing as the ability to easily (use) a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon." "We’ve got a guy I know fairly well," Biden said in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "He’s not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military is you might say significantly underperforming."
He continued "I’m trying to figure out what is Putin’s off ramp? Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position that he does not not only lose face but lose significant power within Russia?" Earlier on Thursday, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder told reporters "at this stage, we do not have any information that would cause us to change our strategic deterrence posture. And we don't assess that President Putin has made a decision to use nuclear weapons at this time." He continued "again, we're taking it very seriously. We'll continue to monitor."
For an optimal experience, please
