") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.gBkjJh::before{display:none}}@media(min-width:1000px){.iZwHvr .taboola{display:none}}.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails){min-height:426px}.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:405px}@media(min-width:1000px){.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails),.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:0}}.jImJId .tp-container-inner,.jImJId .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.jImJId.closed{display:none}.hVezrz{display:block;margin:0 0 16px;color:inherit;text-decoration:underline}.eZumoJ{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483644;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);cursor:pointer;opacity:0;transition:opacity 300ms ease-in-out}.eZumoJ.overlay-background--open{width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:1}.dRVLpc{--trans:300ms ease-in-out;position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483645;width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transform:translateY(-24px);transform-origin:top center;transition:transform var(--trans),opacity var(--trans)}.dRVLpc.overlay--open{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0);transition-delay:150ms}.dRVLpc.overlay--open>:first-child{pointer-events:auto}.cWTSTp .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cWTSTp:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cWTSTp:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.czGZzO{--margin-x:12px;--modal-width:calc(100% - (var(--margin-x) * 2));--modal-max-width:351px;--padding:60px 16px 42px;--line-height:1.25;position:fixed;top:50%;left:50%;overflow:auto;width:var(--modal-width);max-width:var(--modal-max-width);max-height:100vh;box-sizing:border-box;padding:var(--padding);background-color:#eaf2f2;box-shadow:0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);line-height:var(--line-height);text-align:center;transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}@media(min-width:768px){.czGZzO{--modal-width:600px;--modal-max-width:none;--padding:72px 80px 64px;--line-height:1.2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.czGZzO{--modal-width:635px}}.kYjygs{--close-button-margin:15px;position:absolute;top:var(--close-button-margin);right:var(--close-button-margin);padding:10px}@media(min-width:768px){.kYjygs{--close-button-margin:24px}}.PPpcm{display:block;width:100%;max-width:437px;margin:0 0 20px}@media(min-width:768px){.PPpcm{margin-bottom:18px}}.cOYrQW{margin:0 0 30px;font:bold 26px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}@media(min-width:768px){.cOYrQW{font:bold 28px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}}.epOOte{display:block;width:100%;padding:0;margin:0 0 30px;font:normal 16px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.epOOte{font:normal 20px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.fDiLAE{display:block;margin-top:30px;color:#222;font:normal 16px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.lcFPQp{padding:0}.ggPfpJ{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#337e81}.ggPfpJ button svg{width:32px;height:32px;margin:0}:not(.subscribed) .ggPfpJ{margin:0 12px 0 0}.subscribed .ggPfpJ{margin:0 0 16px 0}.lflWOn{display:block}@media(min-width:768px){.lflWOn{display:block}}.lflWOn:last-child button{margin-right:0}.lflWOn path{stroke:#fff}.jWuEbG button{margin-right:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.jWuEbG{display:none}.jWuEbG button{margin-right:12px}}.dTzYJY{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.dTzYJY{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.dTzYJY svg{width:60%;height:60%;margin:20%;fill:#fff}.dTzYJY [type='facebook'] svg{width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.dTzYJY amp-social-share{margin:0 6px;border-radius:50%;background:0;outline:0}.dTzYJY amp-social-share:first-of-type{margin-left:0}.dTzYJY amp-social-share:last-of-type{margin-right:0}@media(min-width:768px){.dTzYJY .share-mobile-only{display:none}}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-bookmark svg{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-bookmark:hover{opacity:.85}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-facebook{background:#3b5998}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-facebook:hover{background:#2f4779}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-twitter{--color:#000;--color-alt:#4e4e4e;background:var(--color)}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-twitter:hover{background:var(--color-alt)}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-whatsapp{background:#25d366}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-whatsapp:hover{background:#1da851}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-whatsapp svg{width:70%;height:auto;margin:15%}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-email{background:#ec1a2e}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-email:hover{background:#ac2a2c}.dTzYJY .amp-social-share-email svg path{stroke:#fff}.kdvWjb{display:flex}.sticky .kdvWjb{flex-direction:column}.bfkmcy{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.bfkmcy{height:25px}}.fczuIa{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fczuIa::after{content:':'}.IOUwh{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.IOUwh::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.izpdPv>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .izpdPv>p{line-height:27px}.izpdPv>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .izpdPv>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.article-sgi .izpdPv>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.izpdPv>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.izpdPv span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.hQjaQn{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.hQjaQn{min-height:450px}}.teads .hQjaQn{display:block}.hQjaQn [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jZcooN{display:none}}.jZcooN[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.jZcooN.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.hlPMMm{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.euTVax{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jBfdop{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.jBfdop{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.jBfdop{max-width:622px}}.hKRbzg{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;background-color:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:768px){.hKRbzg{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.cKIkhp{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.cKIkhp{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.feSJtK{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.feSJtK{display:none}}.bErStG{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.bErStG{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.vaVnf{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jWuFRk{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jWuFRk:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jWuFRk:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.hKrnEq{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.dWUzhG{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.dWUzhG{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.bDgIJb{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.bDgIJb{width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.EYumw{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.EYumw{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.kCOwPr{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.kCOwPr{display:none}}.iGXncB{display:flex;overflow:hidden;height:0;flex-direction:column;gap:8px;opacity:0;transition:all .3s ease-in-out}@media(min-width:768px){.iGXncB{display:flex;position:relative;width:auto;height:40px;order:-1;opacity:1;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.iGXncB::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-to:#fde8ea;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from),var(--fade-to));content:'';opacity:1;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}}@media(min-width:768px){.doTReP{order:-1}}.ggPDxB{display:none;padding-top:8px;margin-top:16px;border-top:1px solid #919191}@media(max-width:767px){.ggPDxB{display:flex}}.gibhIT{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.gibhIT{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}.gHNATZ{min-height:600px}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ{min-height:450px}}.gHNATZ.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ.mobile-only{display:none}}.gHNATZ.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.gHNATZ.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.gHNATZ .third-party-ad{position:sticky;top:16px}.blOrrc{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.blOrrc .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.blOrrc .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.blOrrc .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.blOrrc .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.blOrrc .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%;float:left}.blOrrc .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.blOrrc .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .blOrrc .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .blOrrc .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.blOrrc.sponsored-article img,.blOrrc.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.blOrrc.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.blOrrc .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.blOrrc .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.blOrrc .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.blOrrc .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.blOrrc .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.blOrrc{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.blOrrc{max-width:624px;margin:0}.blOrrc.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.blOrrc{padding-right:0}.blOrrc .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.kvSKnI{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.eXEVFg{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .eXEVFg{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .eXEVFg{height:20px}}.eXEVFg::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.eXEVFg:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.eXEVFg{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.eXEVFg::before{margin-top:2px}}.eXEVFg time{display:block}.eXEVFg time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.eIoMWw{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ec1a2e;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.eIoMWw:hover,.eIoMWw:active{color:#ac2a2c}@media(min-width:768px){.eIoMWw{margin-bottom:0}}.hBKmwt{margin:0 12px 8px -8px}@media(min-width:768px){.hBKmwt{margin-bottom:0}}.enHDwq{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.enHDwq::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#646464;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.enHDwq:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.enHDwq{margin-bottom:0}}.hfnwMY{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.hfnwMY{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hfnwMY{width:30%}}.hrDjjf{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.hrDjjf{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-10{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hrDjjf{flex-direction:row}}.dlBKBu{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.dlBKBu{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .dlBKBu{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.dlBKBu{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .dlBKBu{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.dlBKBu a{color:#222}.dlBKBu a:hover{color:#ac2a2c}.dlBKBu a:hover::after{color:#222}.dlBKBu a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.dlBKBu a:last-child::after{display:none}.azcVx{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.VFZbw{margin:0;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.VFZbw{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.VFZbw{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.VFZbw p{font:inherit}.article-feature .VFZbw a{font-weight:bold}.fKNoab{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#fff}@media(min-width:1000px){.fKNoab{padding:0 16px}.parallax .fKNoab{max-width:1240px}}.bJjAgi{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px}@media(min-width:768px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-0{max-width:968px;margin-right:16px;margin-left:16px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-0{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto}}.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{margin-bottom:16px;color:#222}@media(min-width:768px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{margin-bottom:18px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{margin-top:0}}.article-feature .dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{text-align:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.article-feature .dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{max-width:968px}}.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0{max-width:968px}}.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-top:0}@media(min-width:768px){.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-bottom:16px}}@media(min-width:2560px){.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-bottom:12px}}.dyGKzS{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .dyGKzS{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.gIldS{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.kFPmfF{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.kFPmfF.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.iaRZct{min-height:600px}.iaRZct #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.bFiDnI{min-height:250px}.jAzEot{max-width:100%}.eDScvc{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.CmSgF{margin:0 0 12px}.lbFVDq{height:380px}.bsSHYO{width:100%;height:51px}.bjKtIv{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.jLzsCV{margin-bottom:16px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px;width:35px;height:35px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,#222 50%,rgba(34,34,34,0.9) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}.kNZMQb{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.kNZMQb{display:none}}.iFeFcz{width:308px}.iFeFcz.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.iFeFcz{display:none}}.article-liveblog .fbWdwj{background-color:#f7f7f7}.eFgmkR{justify-content:center}.cvujVr{justify-content:center}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
News World Americas US politics Biden says Americans should not be worried about nuclear war amid Putin threats Comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin put nuclear forces on alert.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe Already subscribed? Log in Leer en Español Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Close Read more President Biden said definitively that Americans need not worry about the threat of nuclear war as Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine persists.
A reporter asked Mr Biden on Monday if Americans should “be worried about nuclear war”.
“No,” Mr Biden responded.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said
“We are assessing President Putin’s directive and at this time we see no reason to change our own alert levels,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Monday, which State Department spokesman Ned Price also echoed.
“We are assessing President Putin's directive at this time, as I think you have heard us say we see no reason to change our own alert levels,” Mr Price said.
Mr Biden’s words comes less than a week into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that Russia’s nuclear forces were being put “on alert”, which he said was in response to “aggressive statements” by Nato.
The concern comes as the United States and its allies have taken aggressive actions against Russia since the invasion. A senior administration official outlined the United States’ sanction of the Russian Central Bank in a background press call.
“It takes trust and solidarity to sanction the central bank of a one and a half trillion-dollar economy, multiples larger than Iran’s or Venezuela’s,” a senior administration official told reporters. “The ruble is in free fall, and soon you’ll see inflation spike and economic activity contract. This is a vicious feedback loop that's triggered by Putin’s own choices and accelerated by his own aggression.”
The announcement comes as the United States has already moved to sanction multiple Russian banks and took extraordinary measures to weaken the nation’s economy.
But Mr Biden has said that the United States would not commit ground troops to the fight against Russia. The US has also rebuffed Ukraine’s request for a no-fly zone, noting that such a move would amount to a pretext to US military combat in Ukraine.
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments