CIA leader Bill Burns called on the West not to be too worried about Russia’s tough nuclear warnings.
On September 7, Mr. Burns said that Western leaders should not be too concerned about the threats of nuclear escalation from the Kremlin.
His remarks come as Ukraine calls on the West to allow the use of weapons to attack deep into Russian territory. The US and its allies have yet to agree to this, saying it risks escalating tensions, especially with a nuclear power like Russia.
However, Mr. Burns said that the US had ignored previous Russian warnings of nuclear escalation in recent years in support of Ukraine, which he said proved that threats from Moscow should not always be taken literally.
He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being “a threat at every turn. We cannot be intimidated by that. We have to be mindful of that. The United States has provided tremendous support to Ukraine, and I am sure the president will consider other ways we can support Kiev.”
The CIA director was asked whether Washington and other Western countries were too worried about the risk of escalation by not allowing Ukraine to use weapons deep into Russia.
“None of us should underestimate the risk of escalation,” Burns said, adding that the CIA had considered the possibility that Russia might use tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine during the first year of the war.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on September 4 that Russia is reviewing its approaches to dealing with “challenges and threats promoted by Western countries.”
“This update of the nuclear doctrine is necessary due to the current agenda and the situation that has clearly emerged as a result of the actions of the West,” Peskov said.
Among these actions, the Kremlin spokesman mentioned “refusal to dialogue” and “pursuing a policy that violates Russia’s interests and security,” as well as provoking conflict in Ukraine. According to Mr. Peskov, such actions will certainly be met with a response.
“All this is taken into account by Moscow, all this is being analyzed and will lay the foundation for proposals regarding the nuclear doctrine,” Peskov stressed.
Earlier, answering the TASS news agency on September 1, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow has a “clear intention” to amend its nuclear doctrine. He stated that this decision is related to the West’s escalating actions in the Ukraine conflict. However, Mr. Ryabkov did not specify when the nuclear doctrine would be updated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also said Moscow’s nuclear doctrine is flexible and can be adjusted if necessary.
“If someone’s actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we believe that we can use all the measures at our disposal. This should not be taken lightly,” Mr. Putin said.
