Russia tells the US it is close to crossing a 'dangerous line' over nuclear warnings

Newsweek has reported on a recent interview by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister,Sergei Ryabkov, speaking to the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti.

Ryabkov spoke about the views of his government in regards to the recent public warnings by U.S. Government officials to Russia against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Treading on dangerous line territory

According to Newsweek, Ryabkov ‘warned the U.S. against bringing tensions with Russia closer to a dangerous line.’ He was referring to the recent public appearance and comments of President Biden and other senior U.S. Government officials who have recently warned Russia against the use of nuclear weapons.

On Sep. 15, President Biden issued a stern warning to Vladimir Putin when asked what the U.S. response would be if Russia utilises nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Biden replied ‘don’t, don’t, don’t, you will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II.’

The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, expressed on CBS' 60 Minutes that the U.S. has sent private warnings to Russia against the use of nuclear weapons but also made lucid to the Russians the consequences of doing so. Blinken also added that the Biden administration has a plan in place if nuclear warfare is unleashed.

Similarly, in an interview on Sunday for This Week on ABChosted by George Stephanopoulos, the White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that ‘Russia would face catastrophic consequences if they chose to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.’

‘The U.S. needs, as they say, to cool down’

According to the Moscow Times, Ryabkov on Monday 26 September chose a toned-down statement to rebuke the stance of the U.S. but culminated with a threat of his own. Ryabkov expressed that the U.S. needs to back off and 'cool down':

We tell our American partners, again and again, to use the most neutral word, that they should, as they say, cool down.

According to Ryabkov, it is the U.S. that is escalating tensions, but they should 'cool down' before the tensions with Russia reach 'a dangerous line.'

President Putin issued on Sep. 21 a mobilisation decree for 300,000 reservists. In the same pre-recorded message, he told the world he is not bluffing about using any weapon at Russia's disposal which according to him are myriad to choose from, including nuclear weapons. Putin said:

If there is a threat to the territorial integrity of our country, and for protecting our people, we will certainly use all the means available to us - and I'm not bluffing.

Sources used:

- Newsweek: ‘Russia Says U.S. Approaching 'Dangerous Line' Amid Nuclear Warnings’

- PBS' 60 Minutes: ‘Blinken on a potential U.S. response to nuclear weapons | 60 Minutes’

- ABC' This Week: ‘Russia faces 'catastrophic consequences' if it uses nuclear weapons: NSA adviser’

- Moscow Times: ‘Russia Tells U.S. to ‘Cool Down’ Over Putin’s Nuclear Warning’

Read more:

⋙ If Vladimir Putin uses nukes, Russia will face 'catastrophic consequences', US warns

⋙ Vladimir Putin warned by the US against using nuclear weapons, Kremlin responds

⋙ Vladimir Putin accuses West of 'nuclear blackmail' and threatens to use weapons of destruction