Joe Biden warned Russia that use of a tactical nuclear weapon would be “an incredibly serious mistake”, as Moscow appeared to be building a pretext for a false-flag strike in Ukraine.
Russia has accused Kyiv of planning to use a “dirty bomb” – an explosive laced with radioactive material – and blame Moscow but Ukraine said that the Kremlin was developing such a device. Allies of Ukraine said Moscow’s baseless claim could be a pretext for an escalation of the war.
Asked about Moscow’s claim, Mr Biden said: “Let me just say: Russia would be making incredibly serious mistake for it to use a tactical nuclear weapon.
“I’m not guaranteeing you that it’s a false-flag operation yet; I don’t know.”
Meanwhile, Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Russia’s leadership is increasingly concerned by acts of sabotage carried out against key infrastructure by its own citizens opposing the war in Ukraine.
The MoD cited the blowing up of a train line in Russia’s Belgorod region on Monday.
