Russia should simply withdraw – US Strategic Communications Coordinator Kirby on nuclear rhetoric

John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House, has said that to protect its troops from being hit by Western-made weapons, Russia should simply withdraw them from the territory of Ukraine. 

Source: Kirby at a press briefing; Matthew Miller, US State Department spokesman; Holos Ameryky (Voice of America)

Quote from Kirby: "If Mr. Putin and Russian officials are worried about their troops in Ukraine getting hit by weapons from other countries, the easiest thing to do is just take your troops and leave."

"It is just reckless and irresponsible for the leader of a major nuclear-armed power to be sabre-rattling the way that he [Putin] is, with the respect to potential use for nuclear weapons. Obviously we monitor this and have continued to monitor this very closely. I can tell you that we’ve seen nothing, even despite the reckless rhetoric, that would cause us to change our strategic deterrent posture."

Details: However, at present, the Administration has not seen any real steps by Russia regarding the possible use of nuclear weapons, despite the aggressive rhetoric.

Miller also said that Washington sees no signs of Russia's possible use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Quote from Miller: "So Russia’s rhetoric – their nuclear rhetoric – has been reckless and irresponsible throughout this conflict. That said, we have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture in response to these announcements, nor any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine."

Background:

• The Ministry of Defence of Russia announced on 6 May that it would "soon" conduct exercises involving the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons on the orders of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.
• Moscow said that UK Ambassador Nigel Casey had been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry to lodge a note of protest. This was in reference to previous statements made by UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron during his visit to Kyiv on Thursday, 2 May that the Ukrainian Armed Forces could use weapons provided by London to strike Russia. 
• Responding to this statement, Moscow said it was ready to strike British military targets both on the territory of Ukraine and abroad. Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia had begun preparations for nuclear exercises, accusing UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and French President Emmanuel Macron of making "provocative statements and threats" and of increasing support for Ukraine.

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