US calls Putin’s nuclear force escalation ‘manufactured threats’

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to put Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, is part of a larger pattern of unwarranted escalation and “manufactured threats” from the Kremlin.

Also read: EU shuts airspace to Russian airlines; will buy Ukraine arms

“This is really a pattern that we’ve seen from President Putin through the course of this conflict, which is manufacturing threats that don’t exist in order to justify further aggression — and the global community and the American people should look at it through that prism,” Psaki said speaking to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.

She added, “This is all a pattern from President Putin and we’re going to stand up for it, we have the ability to defend ourselves, but we also need to call out what we’re seeing here from President Putin.”

Also read: Putin’s nuclear stance a pressure tactic, won’t break them, says Ukraine

When asked about additional military aid or sanctions, Psaki stated that the US is ready to deploy more humanitarian, economic, and defensive military supplies, citing the administration’s most recent aid declarations since the conflict began.

“I would note that the sanctions that we announced yesterday put Russia on par with Iran, cutting them off from a banking system with the global community,” Psaki said. 

When asked if the US would take more immediate action against Russia’s energy sector, Psaki responded that everything is “on the table,” and that the Administration feels the present crisis demonstrates that the US should increase its domestic energy supply and diversify beyond oil and gas.

Also read: Jens Stoltenberg calls Putin’s nuclear move a ‘dangerous rhetoric’

Psaki went on to say that the US is still in frequent touch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and has lauded him for his leadership throughout the first few days of the current conflict.

“He is standing up courageously against the invasion of President Putin and Russian leadership,” Psaki said. “We will remain in close contact with him.”

The present Russian invasion of Ukraine, Psaki added, will be addressed in US President Joe Biden‘s State of the Union address on Tuesday.

NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg called Putin’s move a ‘dangerous rhetoric’, while Ukraine termed it as a ‘pressure tactic.’