Bloomberg The United States is working with NATO to prepare for possible biological or nuclear incidents caused by Russia, while the world’s leading industrial nations plan to warn President Vladimir Putin against using such weapons.
While the Russian invasion stalled a month into the conflict, A senior US official said Thursday Washington is working with allies on preparedness and deterrence procedures for Russian weapons of mass destruction, as well as possible medical and other countermeasures to help Ukraine.. The official was speaking at a meeting between US President Joe Biden and NATO leaders in Brussels, a day after US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan downplayed the risks of a nuclear attack.
The leaders of the Group of Seven plan to say so they will continue to impose “severe consequences on Russia by fully applying the sanctions that the countries have already imposed and that they are ready to apply additional measures.
“We are entrusting relevant ministers with an initiative focused on overseeing the full implementation of sanctions and coordinating responses related to evasive measures, including those related to Central Bank of Russia gold transactions,” read a draft joint statement Statement obtained by Bloomberg that leaders are due to release on Thursday.
Biden is in Brussels for summits with NATO, the G7 and the European Union as world leaders show their unity to counter the Russian invasion and seek to develop measures to deal with the economic fallout.
Russia suffered heavy casualties in the first weeks of the conflict: NATO estimates say at least 7,000 soldiers were killed and the actual death toll could possibly be as high as 15,000.. Britain’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday Russia is likely to try to mobilize its reservists and conscripts, as well as private military contractors and foreign mercenaries.
For its part, Ukraine has shown unexpected unity and strength over the past month, despite heavy attacks on civilian targets and the displacement of millions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian soldiers killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers. Images of Moscow laying siege to cities like Mariupol have only spurred Ukrainians to stage protests against Russian troops.
“We still have a very difficult time ahead of us,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in a Facebook post marking the first month of the war. “The Russian war machine will not stop until it is drowned in the blood of its own soldiers. Russian society is already experiencing some of the consequences, but is intimidated and passive.”
Ukraine will keep fighting because “they won’t let anyone take our state away,” he added. “The state with which generations of Ukrainians dreamed, fought and died.”
Despite heavy casualties, Putin has shown no sign of retreating even as the wave of economic sanctions imposed by the US, EU and UK are taking their toll.. There are increasing signs of product shortages in Russia as consumers begin to feel the impact of sweeping sanctions.
US warnings of chemical and nuclear incidents point to growing concerns that Putin will lash out at his army, inflicting heavy casualties. Biden said in the White House on Wednesday that there is “a real threat” from Russia’s use of chemical weapons.
But Sullivan hinted Wednesday that the United States has no hard data on whether Putin’s schedule has changed.
“We haven’t seen anything that would have caused us to adjust our stance, our nuclear stance, but of course it’s something we need to continue to consult closely with allies and partners about and communicate directly with the Russians,” Sullivan said.
The G7 also plan to ask other countries to impose sanctions and not provide assistance to Russia.
“In addition, we call on all countries not to provide military or other assistance to Russia to continue its aggression in Ukraine,” the draft statement said.
Biden beamed as he arrived at the NATO summit on Thursday and chatted and shook hands with his colleagues during a premeeting photo op.
But behind the politeness hides a challenge for the American president: the summit meetings are coming up a test of Biden’s ability to project power in the face of Russian aggression and rally allies around tougher sanctions to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine. The president is under pressure to rapidly tighten sanctions on Moscow as the Ukraine war enters its second month.
A day earlier, Biden had warned that he saw a “real threat” that Putin would use chemical weapons in Ukraine.
G7 leaders also plan to pledge aid to countries trying to break their dependency on Russian oil.
“We will ensure an alternative and sustainable supply and act in solidarity and in close coordination in the event of possible supply interruptions,” says the draft. Leaders are also urging oil and gas producing countries to increase supplies.
The United States and the EU are expected to announce an agreement on Friday aimed at reducing Europe’s energy dependence on Russia.
With the help of Natalia Drozdiak and Jordan Fabian.