The CIA cautions desperate Putin threatens to use nuclear weapons.
Key Takeaways:
- According to William Burns, if Russia's invasion of Ukraine fails, President Vladimir Putin may be forced to unleash a tactical or low-yield nuclear weapon.
- Russia has several tactical nuclear weapons that are less powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima by the US during WWII.
According to CIA Director William Burns, the failure of Russia's invasion of Ukraine could force President Vladimir Putin to use a tactical or low-yield nuclear weapon.
"None of us can take it lightly the danger posed by a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or low-yield nuclear weapons," Burns stated during a speech in Atlanta, "given the potential despair of President Putin and also the Russian leadership, given the setbacks that they've faced so far, militarily."
The Kremlin claims it put Russian nuclear forces on high alert shortly after the assault began February 24. Still, Burns told students at Georgia Tech that the US had not seen "a lot of practical evidence" of actual deployments that would raise more concern.
"We're concerned. I know President Biden is anxious about averting a third world war, about preventing a tipping point where nuclear war becomes a possibility, "Burns stated.
Russia possesses several tactical nuclear weapons that are less potent than the bomb unleashed on Hiroshima by the United States during World War II.
Suppose things go badly in a conventional battle with the West. In that case, Russian military doctrine includes a principle called escalate to de-escalate, which would involve deploying a low-yield first strike nuclear bomb to reclaim the initiative.
"NATO might intervene militarily on the ground in Ukraine in this conflict," according to this opinion, "and that's not something that's in the cards, as President Biden has made quite plain."
Burns, formerly the US ambassador to Russia, had harsh words for Putin, calling him an "apostle of payback" who "has stood in a combustible cocktail of grievance, ambition, and insecurity" throughout the years.
"Every day, Putin proves that falling powers can be just as destructive as growing powers," said Burns.