Published on : 18/09/2022 – 07:57
Russia finds itself in an increasingly delicate situation diplomatically over the war in Ukraine, as does its military on the ground. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was looking for solid support at the Samarkand summit in Uzbekistan, found himself facing China and India expressing their caution and reservations. US President Joe Biden has harshly warned the Kremlin against using chemical or nuclear weapons.
This has been one of the concerns of American intelligence for several months. It reappeared with the difficulties of the Russian army on the Ukrainian ground. This concern is that a cornered Vladimir Putin will come to make desperate use of chemical weapons or tactical nuclear weapons. On CBS’s Sunday political show ” Sixty minutes “, Joe Biden was direct, reports our correspondent in Washington, Guillaume Naudin :
« Don’t, don’t, don’t. It would change the face of warfare like nothing has since World War II. »
« outcasts »
Pressed to say what the nature of the American reaction would be if that happened, Joe Biden refuses to answer precisely, but he evokes an answer in the same tone: “ It will be substantial. They would be even more pariahs in the world than they already are. And depending on the extent of what they do, we will determine what response will be given. »
Faced with the advance of Ukrainian troops, whom he accuses without proof of wanting to carry out terrorist actions on Russian territory, Vladimir Putin explained at the end of the Samarkand summit that his army’s response is measured.
End the conflict as soon as possible »
And in the face of India’s reservations, which affirmed that ” it’s not time for war “, the Russian president said he heard his” worries », taking up a formula that he had employed the day before with Xi Jinping. The Russian President told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would ” do everything “so that the conflict in Ukraine” end as soon as possible ».
But, speaking a little later to the Russian press, the head of the Kremlin declared that Moscow was in no hurry to complete its ” key objective in Ukraine: the conquest of Donbass, a region in the south-east of the country partly controlled by the Russian army. ” The plan (of operations – Editor’s note) does not require change (…) We are not in a hurry said Vladimir Putin.
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