(Dan Tri) – US officials said Russia only needs to withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory if it wants to protect its forces from attacks by Western weapons.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby (Photo: Getty).
`If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and Russian officials are worried that their troops in Ukraine will be attacked by weapons from other countries, then the simplest way is to withdraw their troops,` said a spokesman for the National Security Council.
`It is reckless and irresponsible for the leader of a nuclear-armed power to threaten in the way he (President Putin) did, regarding the possibility of using nuclear weapons. We still follow
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said there are currently no signs that Russia could use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
`Russia’s statement – its nuclear declaration – has been reckless and irresponsible throughout this conflict. That said, we do not see any reason to adjust Russia’s nuclear stance
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on May 6 that it will organize military exercises, including practicing the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the exercise will include practice preparing and deploying the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
Moscow did not specify the duration of the exercise, only saying that this activity will take place `in the near future`.
The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the upcoming tactical nuclear exercises are a response to `aggressive` actions and statements by the US and its Western allies.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said that Moscow’s planned exercise is a response to recent statements by French, British and American officials about possibly sending troops to Ukraine.
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev emphasized that the US, UK, France and other Western countries should see Russia’s military exercises as a reminder of where the escalation of the Ukraine conflict could take them.
Mr. Medvedev mentioned recent Western discussions about the possibility of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine, as well as encouraging Kiev to use aid weapons to attack Russian territory.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Reuters last week that Kiev `has the right` to use British-supplied missiles to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.