JRL NEWSWATCH: “C.I.A. Director Airs Concern That Putin Might Turn to Nuclear Weapons” – New York Times

Iskander Missile with Launch file photo

“William J. Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, cautioned that he had seen no ‘practical evidence’ that would suggest such a move was imminent.”

“[CIA] director [William J. Burns] said … Thursday that ‘potential desperation’ to extract the semblance of a victory in Ukraine could tempt … Putin … to order the use of a tactical or low-yield nuclear weapon …. [Burns] served as American ambassador to Russia and is the member of the administration who has dealt most often with … Putin.  [He] said the potential detonation of such a weapon — even as a warning shot — was a possibility … the United States remained ‘very concerned’ about. … [H]e quickly cautioned that … he had seen no ‘practical evidence’ of the kinds of military deployments or movement of weapons that would suggest such a move was imminent. …”

Click here for: “C.I.A. Director Airs Concern That Putin Might Turn to Nuclear Weapons; William J. Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, cautioned that he had seen no ‘practical evidence’ that would suggest such a move was imminent.” – New York Times/ David E. Sanger, Julian E. Barnes



 

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