The United States is studying responses to possible Russian escalation in Ukraine, including its possible use of tactical nuclear weapons

CNN
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With growing fears of an escalation of Vladimir Putin Russia’s war in UkraineThe United States is considering how to respond to a range of potential scenarios, including concerns that the Russians will use tactical nuclear weapons, according to three sources familiar with the latest intelligence.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the United States has been developing contingency plans for a response, including contingency That the Russian president could escalate A step close to a nuclear attack on Ukraine, via what one source described as a “nuclear show,” such as a possible military strike on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, or the detonation of a nuclear device at high altitudes or far from populated areas.

Officials warn that the United States has not detected preparations for a nuclear strike. However, experts see them as potential options the United States should prepare for as the Russian invasion falters and as Moscow annexes more Ukrainian territory.

US officials have also noted wistfully the Russian president’s repeated public threats to use nuclear weapons. “If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will undoubtedly use all available means to protect Russia and our people. This is not a hoax,” Putin said in a televised address late last month.

On Friday, at a party announced The illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regionsPutin said Russia would use “every available means” to defend the territories, adding that the US had “created a precedent” for nuclear attacks in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.

“Putin is capable of anything,” Democratic Representative Mike Quigley of Illinois, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN. Quigley noted that there was no evidence yet of preparations for such an attack, and added: “You have to take it seriously.”

The United States is considering a range of potential scenarios in order to develop contingency plans for how it and its partners will respond to any such attacks. The prospect of a “nuclear show” is an option if Putin stops ordering a nuclear attack on Ukrainian forces or population centers, opting instead for what one official described as a “show of bravado.”

A nuclear strike is still considered unlikely, although concern has grown among US officials about the possibility of such an attack in recent weeks. “Defeat is not an option for Putin,” said a source familiar with the intelligence.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in an exclusive interview with CNN on Sunday that he had seen nothing to indicate that Putin had decided to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

“To be clear, the man who makes that decision, I mean, he’s one man,” Austin said of Russia’s nuclear weapons threats in an interview with Fareed Zakaria on “Fred Zakaria’s GPS”.

There are no restrictions on Mr. Putin. Just as he made the irresponsible decision to invade Ukraine, you know, he could make another decision. But I don’t see anything at the moment that would lead me to believe that he made such a decision.”

While there has been growing public opposition to the war within Russia, the United States believes Putin is under greater pressure from hard-line nationalists, who are urging a further escalation of the conflict.And the A source familiar with the intelligence said.

Asked about CNN’s “New Day” report on Monday, John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, said the United States was “closely” monitoring Russia’s actions at the Zaporizhzhya power plant amid concerns that Putin might escalate his war with Russia. Ukraine was “thinking” of a response to any possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia.

Kirby said that although the United States has not seen anything change the strategic position of the United States, we are “monitoring this as closely as possible,” adding, “We take these threats very seriously.”