Pentagon says Russia’s rhetoric about nuclear weapons is ‘dangerous’
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby speaks at a press briefing at the Pentagon on September 30, 2021 in Arlington Virginia, USA.
Yasin Ozturk | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The United States has responded to comments from Kremlin spokesman Dmity Peskov, who told CNN in an interview Tuesday that Russia could consider using nuclear weapons if Russia faces an “existential threat.”
Asked about the comments, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the rhetoric was “dangerous” and that “it is not the way a responsible nuclear power should act.”
Kirby’s comments come after Peskov refused to rule out the use of nuclear weapons, and when asked by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday under what conditions Putin would use Russia’s nuclear capabilities, Peskov replied, “if it is an existential threat to our country, so maybe.”
US President Joe Biden and his European counterparts are expected to announce new sanctions against Russia, as well as a tightening of existing sanctions, during his trip to Brussels this week.
Biden will also discuss long-term adjustments to the NATO force’s position and readiness in the event of nuclear weapons use, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday.
– Holly Ellyatt
Russia’s G-20 membership is in doubt, the report suggests
Russia’s G-20 membership is under scrutiny, with the United States and its Western allies allegedly assessing whether the country should remain in the group of twenty groups of major economies after its invasion of Ukraine, sources involved in the discussions told Reuters on Tuesday.
The likelihood that any bid to exclude Russia directly would be vetoed by others in the club – which includes China, India, Saudi Arabia and others – raised the prospect of some countries skipping the G-20 meetings this year, he said. the sources.
The G-20, and its smaller G-7 counterpart, sees leaders of the world’s largest economies meet to try to coordinate responses to international events, such as economic crises or climate change.
Reuters reported that an unnamed senior G-7 official questioned whether it was appropriate for Russia to remain a member of the G-20. Russia was suspended from the former G-8 after annexing Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
– Holly Ellyatt
Satellite images show devastation in Mariupol caused by air strikes
Maxar satellite image of additional burning residential buildings in Mariupol, Ukraine.
Satellite image © 2022 Maxar Technologies | Getty Images
Residential buildings and factories in the southeastern city of Mariupol have been destroyed, according to satellite images taken Tuesday by the American company Maxar Technologies.
Maxar, which works with U.S. government agencies to provide commercial satellite imagery, released images showing damage to apartment buildings and a factory.
The latest series of photos, all dated March 22, also showed smoke billowing from buildings in Mariupol.
Maxar satellite images show a closer look at damaged Azovstal Metallurgical factory buildings in Mariupol, Ukraine.
Satellite image © 2022 Maxar Technologies | Getty Images
Maxar satellite images of the list of fires burning in residential area, Livoberezhnyi district, Mariupol, Ukraine.
Satellite image © 2022 Maxar Technologies | Getty Images
About 100,000 still in Mariupol under ‘inhuman conditions’, Zelenskyy said
Sywasz Elizabeth, Samarska Ludmyla and Pylypenko Arseny are waiting for a bus after arriving safely on a train from the besieged city of Mariupol, which is under Russian military attack on March 22, 2022 in Lviv, Ukraine.
Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images
About 100,000 people are left in the besieged Ukrainian port city of Mariupol under “inhuman conditions,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“No food, no water, no medicine. Under constant shelling, under constant bombing,” he said in a video address, according to an English transcript of NBC News.
Ukraine has been trying to evacuate people from the city and bring in humanitarian aid for more than a week, Zelenskyy said. “Unfortunately, almost all of our attempts have been disrupted by the Russian occupiers. By shelling or deliberate terror.”
The president also said that Ukrainian representatives practically continue “very difficult” negotiations. “Step by step, we are moving forward,” he said.
He said he was grateful for the support of international brokers and executives. “Today was one of those days that allows us to say with confidence that the whole world is with us,” he said.
– Abigail Ng