“If he uses any weapons of mass destruction, then this will be a game-changer in the whole thing,” he said. “For sure, the North Atlantic Alliance and its leaders led by the United States will have to sit at the table, and they will really have to think seriously [about] what to do because then it starts to be dangerous.”
Previously in Syria, the Obama administration declared that the use of chemical weapons would also be a “Red Line” as well with unspecified severe consequences if they were employed. Russia and Syrian dictator Assad called that bluff and used them anyway killing 1,000 civilians near Damascus in 2013. President Obama did not follow through on the threat to use military force and instead relied on Russian promises to remove those weapons from Syria. This was not done and Assad used chemical weapons again in 2017, prompting President Trump to strike Syria twice in retaliation without Russia escalating the conflict.
Thomas-Greenfield: “We will respond aggressively.”
In response to Russia’s envoy to the UN Vasily Nebenzya stating that there were US-sponsored chemical and biological weapons programs in Ukraine, US envoy to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that “I will say this once: ‘Ukraine does not have a biological weapons program.” and went on to say that “It is Russia that has long maintained a biological weapon program in violation of international law.”
While the US does support Ukraine’s biological laboratories, these are not for weapons development but rather to help Ukraine strengthen its public health organizations by learning more about dangerous diseases and viruses and how to thwart them.
"We've been clear, if they escalate to this level, we will respond aggressively to what they are doing." @USAmbUN tells @jaketapper the US is prepared for Russia to engage in a false flag effort to justify use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/SLbWM3Ll9m
— CNN (@CNN) March 20, 2022
Thomas-Greenfield also said to Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union” that she was very concerned about Russia using chemical weapons against Ukrainians and vowed an aggressive response if they were to be discovered using said weapons. “We are concerned that they may use chemical weapons in Ukraine. We’ve been clear if they escalate to this level, we will respond aggressively to what they’re doing,”
US Department of State Ned Price also released a statement regarding these allegations last March 9, which read:
“The United States does not own or operate any chemical or biological laboratories in Ukraine, it is in full compliance with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological Weapons Convention, and it does not develop or possess such weapons anywhere. It is Russia that has active chemical and biological weapons programs and is in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and Biological Weapons Convention.”
Furthermore, various western officials have stated that Russia has had a track record of accusing its enemies of crimes that they themselves were guilty of to try and justify their “premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attacks on Ukraine.”
Austin: There would be a “significant reaction.”
Last Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also echoed statements from his fellow US officials, stating that there would be a “significant reaction” from the United States and its allies if Russia decides to attack Ukraine with chemical or biological weapons.
“I think if a chemical or biological weapon was used, you would see- as- a significant reaction from not only the United States but also the global community,” he said. “But I think this is a very serious step. And as you heard our president say, we won’t take that likely.”
Austin further claimed that they have seen Russia raise and create issues in the past so that they may have a pretext to do something in combat. This escalation from Russia is seen by many as a method for them to possibly regain momentum in its invasion of Ukraine. They have been seen to be losing thousands of soldiers to what was once seen as an outgunned and outnumbered Ukraine.
“They’re not being effective today in terms of their maneuver forces on the ground are essentially stalled. It’s had the effect of him moving his forces into a wood chipper,” the Defense Secretary said.
“You know, the Ukrainians have continued to attrit his forces, and they’ve been very effective, using the equipment that we provided them, you know, and armor weapons and aircraft weapons. And again, significant resolve on the part of the Ukrainian people.”
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