Ukraine war: ‘First time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have a direct threat of the use nuclear weapons’, says President Biden
US President Joe Biden has said the world is facing the biggest threat of nuclear “Armageddon” since the days of President Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Speaking at a Democratic Party fundraiser in New York, his ‘off camera’ comments were overheard by journalists from the White House pool.
It comes as Russian officials warned of the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons after suffering huge military setbacks in the invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow accuses Zelenskyy of calling for world war – latest updates
Describing Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Biden said he had “got to know the guy pretty well”.
“He’s not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military is you might say significantly underperforming.”
And he made clear his concerns that if such weapons were deployed it would quickly escalate into world nuclear conflict.
“First time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have a direct threat of the use nuclear weapon if in fact things continue down the path they are going,” he said.
During the 1962 crisis, the United States under President John Kennedy and the Soviet Union under Nikita Kruschev came close to using nuclear weapons over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Mr Biden said he and US officials were searching for a diplomatic off-ramp.
“I’m trying to figure out what is Putin’s off-ramp?” he said. “Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position that he does not only lose face but lose significant power within Russia?
“We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis.”
He added: “I don’t think there’s any such thing as the ability to easily (use) a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon.
“I didn’t realise how much serious damage the previous administration did to our foreign policy.”
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What is a tactical nuclear weapon?
US officials have warned for the last few months about the prospect of Russia using weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine after numerous strategic setbacks on the battlefield.
Mr Putin has repeatedly alluded to using his country’s vast nuclear arsenal.
Last month, when he announced plans to conscript Russian men to serve in Ukraine, he said: “I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction … and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal.”
With a lingering stare at the camera, he added: “It’s not a bluff.”
On Thursday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Mr Putin understood the “world will never forgive” a Russian nuclear strike.
“He understands that after the use of nuclear weapons he would be unable anymore to preserve, so to speak, his life, and I’m confident of that,” Mr Zelenskyy said.
A judge in New York has postponed Donald Trump’s hush money sentencing until September to consider the Supreme Court’s ruling on immunity.
The US’s top court decided on Monday immunity exists from criminal prosecution for official acts while in office, in a boost for Trump – who is accused of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss.
The former president asked Justice Juan Merchan to delay the sentencing for his conviction over hush money paid to a porn star to give him a chance to argue he should have been immune from prosecution.
Prosecutors said Trump’s argument was “without merit”, but agreed to the delay to give Trump time to make his case.
He will face an uphill battle getting the hush money conviction overturned, since much of the conduct in the case predates his time in office.
The delay will push the sentencing beyond the Republic National Convention on 15 July, when Trump is due to be named the party nominee for the presidential election on 5 November.
The sentencing, originally set for 11 July, has now been scheduled for 18 September.
Trump was found guilty on 30 May of falsifying business records to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohen’s $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
The offer was made to keep her quiet about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter until after the 2016 election, when Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Trump denies ever having sex with Ms Daniels and has said he will appeal against the conviction after his sentencing.
Prosecutors said the payment was part of an illicit scheme to influence the election.
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In their letter to Justice Merchan, Trump’s team argued prosecutors had used evidence involving his official acts as president, including conversations while in the White House.
Under the Supreme Court’s ruling, prosecutors cannot use evidence related to official actions to help prove criminal cases involving unofficial actions.
US
Biden says Supreme Court immunity ruling means presidents can ‘ignore the law’ – as Trump celebrates ‘big win’
Joe Biden has said the historic ruling that former presidents have immunity violates the principle “that there are no kings in America” – and means they can now “ignore the law”.
He was speaking after the US Supreme Court decided absolute immunity exists from criminal prosecution for official acts while in office, but not for unofficial ones.
“Each, each of us is equal before the law. No one is above the law, not even the president of the United States,” Mr Biden said on Monday evening.
The ruling is a victory for Donald Trump, who is accused of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss.
“I know I will respect the limits of presidential power as I have for the three-and-a-half years,” Mr Biden said.
“But any president, including Donald Trump, will now be free to ignore the law.”
The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of Trump’s case, but referred it back to a lower court to decide how to apply the ruling.
It must now decide whether Trump was acting officially or privately in relation to the charges.
The decision is a big win for Trump’s legal case over the 2020 election. Pic: Reuters
President Biden said Monday’s ruling also means the ex-president is now “highly unlikely” to go on trial before US voters have their say again in four months’ time.
“It’s a terrible disservice to the people in this nation,” he said.
If Trump becomes president again in November, he may be able to use his powers to dismiss the charges against him.
He earlier celebrated the ruling, posting online: “BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”
The three liberal justices all dissented with the majority opinion – with Sonia Sotomayor warning it was a dangerous step for democracy.
She said it made a “mockery” of the principle that “no man is above the law”.
“In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law,” she wrote.
The chief justice, John Roberts, insisted that wasn’t true but said they have “at least presumptive immunity from prosecution” for official acts.
The decision passed with the help of the three conservative judges Trump appointed when he was president.
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Biden v Trump: Highlights from the TV debate
Mr Biden’s comments follow his poor showing in the TV debate with Trump last week, a performance that prompted speculation the Democrats might try to replace him as candidate.
The 81-year’s remarks were his first from the White House since then, and he put in a far more assured and coherent performance – even sporting a glowing tan.
However, Mr Biden was reading from an autocue – something he did not have the benefit of during his stumbling face off with Trump.
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Read more:
Could Biden be replaced as election nominee?
Former Trump aide Bannon ‘proud’ as he begins sentence
Mr Biden admitted last week his debating skills were not what they once were but said it was his substance and actions that mattered.
His family have also urged him to carry on.
Democrat insiders spoke of panic after the TV debacle, but any effort to force him to withdraw against his will is extremely unlikely – with the only realistic route being if he stepped down himself.
The US Supreme Court has sent Donald Trump’s claim he is immune from prosecution for his actions while president back to a lower court.
Trump faces prosecution over his role in the deadly January 6 riots in 2021 at the Capitol in Washington DC, after he encouraged his supporters to gather at Congress to oppose the approval of Joe Biden’s 2020 election win; and alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election result.
The former president had been charged with conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiring against the right of Americans to vote and corruptly obstructing an official proceeding and conspiring to do so.
In a historic 6-3 ruling, the justices said for the first time that former presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for their official acts, but no immunity for unofficial acts.
But instead of deciding for themselves, the justices ordered lower courts to work out precisely how to apply their decision to Trump’s case.
The lower court must now decide whether he was acting officially or privately.
Trump’s legal team had argued he was immune from prosecution as he was serving as president when he took the actions leading to the charges.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought the charges in August last year, has opposed presidential immunity from prosecution based on the principle no one is above the law.
A trial had been scheduled to start on 4 March, before the delays over the immunity issue.
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The Supreme Court’s decision adds further delays. If Trump becomes president again in November, in reality he may be able to use his powers to dismiss the charges against him.
The court’s slow handling of the case has already helped Trump by making it unlikely any trial on these charges could be completed before the election on 5 November.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has said this case and three others are politically motivated attempts to keep him from returning to the White House.
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