WASHINGTON – The perilous relationship between the United States and Russia — which hold about 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons — continues to worsen after nearly a year of war in Ukraine.
President Biden will prepare to mark Friday’s one-year anniversary with a new round of sanctions targeting the Kremlin’s defense and energy sectors, Russian banks and several individuals in an effort to stop the Russian invasion.
“We would love to see an end to this war – of course,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Biden addressed concerns that Russia is prepared to use weapons of mass destruction.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that he had put an end to The Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, also known as the New START Treaty.
Biden was asked by an ABC News reporter: “What’s your message to Putin regarding his suspension of the treaty?
“It’s a big mistake to do that – not very responsible, but I don’t think he is going to use nuclear weapons or anything like that,” he said.
Putin also met with China’s top diplomat this week, proclaiming deepening ties between the two countries amid warnings by the White House Thursday not to provide Moscow with lethal military weapons.
“They (China) would decide to provide lethal assistance to Russia at their own peril and it would come with costs and consequences,” said U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price.
Despite the warnings by the United States, NATO says they are seeing some signs that China is considering sending arms to Russia.