intelligence agencies believe parts of the Ukrainian government authorized the car bomb attack near Moscow in August that killed Daria Dugina, the daughter of a prominent Russian nationalist. Putin of Russia illegally annexed four regions where fighting is raging. The Ukrainian victories came as President Vladimir V. Russia’s Retreat: After significant gains in eastern cities like Lyman, Ukraine is pushing farther into Russian-held territory in the south, expanding its campaign as Moscow struggles to mount a response and hold the line.Putin issued his directive, leaving some wondering what he was thinking, and how he might respond. Russia’s most senior military officer, Valery Gerasimov, sat stone-faced as Mr. Putin told his generals that he was acting because of the West’s “aggressive comments” about Ukraine. But what made the latest nuclear outburst notable was that it was staged for television, as Mr. Putin has reminded the world, and Washington, that he has a massive arsenal and might be tempted to use it. It was the second time in a week that Mr. Biden, in Delaware for the weekend, respond to Mr. Similar concerns drove the decision not to have Mr. Putin wants to create that impression, to add to Washington’s unease. Clapper Jr., said in public today what some officials have been saying in private since the Russian leader began accusing Ukraine of genocide and claiming it was developing nuclear weapons of its own. The former director of national intelligence, James R.
Putin tests how far he can go and threatens to use the ultimate weapon to get there.Īnd his outburst highlighted anew the question, coursing through the American intelligence community, about the state of mind of the Russian leader, a man previously described as pragmatic, calculating and cunning. Putin for “another escalatory and unnecessary step that threatens us all.” The White House made it clear that America’s own alert status had not changed.īut to many in the administration, who spoke on Sunday on the condition of anonymity, it was a stark reminder of how quickly the Ukraine crisis could spin into a direct superpower confrontation - and how it may yet do so, as Mr. The American ambassador to the United Nations reminded the Security Council on Sunday afternoon that Russia was “under no threat” and chided Mr. Putin as once again manufacturing a menace, threatening Armageddon for a war he started without provocation.įor now, at least, Mr. Or the president could largely ignore it, sending out aides to portray Mr. They could match the move and put American forces on Defcon 3 - known to moviegoers as that moment when the Air Force rolls out bombers, and nuclear silos and submarines are put on high alert.
Putin declared Sunday that he was putting his nuclear forces into “special combat readiness” - a heightened alert status reminiscent of some of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War - President Biden and his aides had a choice.
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