White House warns Russia may use chemical weapons in Ukraine
Washington, Mar 10: The Biden administration has publicly warned that Russia might seek to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine as the White House rejected Russian claims of illegal chemical weapons development in the country it has invaded.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova this week, without evidence, accused Ukraine of running chemical and biological weapons labs in its territory, supported by the US White House press secretary Jen Psaki called Russia's claim "preposterous" and said it could be part of an attempt by Russia to lay the groundwork for itself using such weapons of mass destruction against Ukraine.
"This is all an obvious ploy by Russia to try to justify its further premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine," Psaki tweeted Wednesday.
"Now that Russia has made these false claims, and China has seemingly endorsed this propaganda, we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them."
The US for months has warned about Russian "false flag" operations to create a pretext for the invasion. Wednesday's warning suggested Russia might seek to create a pretense for escalating the two-week old conflict that has seen the Russian offensive slowed by stronger-than-expected Ukrainian defenders, but not stopped.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby on Wednesday called the Russian claim "a bunch of malarkey."
The international community for years has assessed that Russia has used chemical weapons before in carrying out assassination attempts against Putin enemies like Alexey Navalny and former spy Sergei Skripal. Russia also supports the Assad government in Syria, which has used chemical weapons against its people in a decade-long civil war.
Asked by a Russian journalist about the claims, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "At this point have no information to confirm these reports or these allegations about these kinds of labs."
"Our colleagues at the World Health Organization, who have been working with the Ukrainian Governments, said they are unaware of any activity on the part of the Ukrainian Government which is inconsistent with its international treaty obligations, including on chemical weapons or biological weapons," Dujarric added.
This is all an obvious ploy by Russia to try to try to justify its further premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) March 9, 2022
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“Not aware about Eknath Shinde’s statement,” says K’taka BJP chief BY Vijayendra
Bengaluru: Distancing from Eknath Shinde’s “toppling Karnataka Congress government post general elections,” remark, state BJP President BY Vijayendra claimed, “ We are happy as opposition party, and are fulfilling all the responsibilities as the opposition party should do. We are not attempting to topple the Congress government for any reason. I don't have any information regarding Shinde’s statement.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s during a campaign event in Satara reportedly stated that as Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was toppled in Maharashtra, likewise “Operation Kamala” will be done in Karnataka post Lok Sabha elections.
ALSO READ: CM Siddaramaiah dismisses Maharashtra CM's talk of toppling Karnataka govt after LS polls
Meanwhile Vijayendra further clarified that, "there is no question of us doing any kind of operation. However, Lok Sabha election results can have any impact in the state. Its effect can be anything. We are not responsible for that.”
“I am not aware of what Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said about the fall of the Congress government in Karnataka. After the Lok Sabha election results, I will not say what kind of upheaval will happen in the Congress party,” he added.
