Russian and US flags are displayed before talks between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman at the United States Mission in Geneva, Switzerland January 10, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
MOSCOW, Sept 26 (Reuters) – The Kremlin said on Monday it was in “sporadic” contact with the United States on nuclear weapons issues, days after President Vladimir Putin said he was “not bluffing” about his willingness to use such a weapon if Russia felt that its territorial integrity was threatened.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two sides had kept a limited open channel of dialogue to allow an “urgent exchange of messages” between the world’s two biggest nuclear powers.
“There are channels for dialogue at the appropriate level, but they are of a very sporadic nature. At least they allow for the exchange of some urgent messages about mutual positions,” Peskov told reporters.
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Putin said last week that Moscow would be ready to use nuclear weapons to “protect Russia and our people” as he announced a mobilization action that threatens to significantly escalate the seven-month conflict in Ukraine.
The United States warned Moscow on Sunday of “catastrophic consequences” if it uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine. To see also : Secretary of State Mayorkas Extends Temporary Protected Status for Syrians in the United States.
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States would “respond decisively” if Russia deployed such weapons against its neighbour. He did not elaborate publicly, but said Washington had privately told Moscow “in more detail exactly what that would mean.”
Peskov declined to comment when asked what the United States told Russia it meant by “catastrophic consequences.”
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