(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) As Ukrainian officials scrambled Thursday to clean up Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s reported call for preemptive NATO strikes against Russia, President Joe Biden was warning that the risk of nuclear “Armageddon” is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
Biden pushed the dark forecast during a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, where he doubled-down on his administration’s support for Ukraine.
“We’re going to continue to support [Ukraine] but for the first time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have the direct threat of the use of a nuclear weapon if in fact things continue down the path that they are going,” Biden said, alluding to the increasing rhetoric and threats of using nuclear weapons from Russian President Vladimir Putin, as his invasion has reportedly not only stalled, but is losing ground.
“Where does he find a way out?” Biden asked of Putin. “Where does he find himself in a position that he does not not only lose face, but lose significant power within Russia?”
While Biden was wondering how Putin could save face, Zelenskyy was reportedly wondering how to preemptively strike Russia before Russia broke out its nuclear arsenal.
When asked on a video call Thursday with Australia’s Lowy Institute “what more do you want NATO to do to deter Russia from using nuclear weapons?”, the man who is the odds-on-favorite to win the Nobel Peace Prize had a chilling response.
NATO should “eliminate” the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons, with “pre-emptive/preventive strikes” so that Russia will “know what will happen to them” if they used nukes, reported Valiant News.
Zelenskyy, according to translations of his comments from two different outlets, replied:
“What should NATO do? Eliminate the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons. But what is important, I once again appeal to the international community, as I did before February 24: we need preemptive strikes, so that they’ll know what will happen to them if they use nukes, and not the other way around.
Don’t wait for Russia’s nuclear strikes, and then say, ‘oh, since you did this, take that from us!’ Reconsider the way you apply pressure. This is what NATO should do: reconsider the order in which it applies pressure [on Russia].”
“This absolute psychopath will not be satisfied until he starts World War III,” tweeted XStrategies digital guru Greg Price, while Newsmax’s Benny Johnson wondered, “How exactly would this ‘eliminate the possibility’ of a Russian nuclear strike?”
Zelenskyy’s press secretary rushed to “clarify” the remarks, claiming that people had “gone too far” with “nuclear hysteria,” and that people were discussing “nuclear strikes when there are none.” according to Valiant News.
“Let me remind you that the only measures that were about then were preventive sanctions,” he added, claiming Zelenskyy was talking about previous action intended to prevent Russia from invading.
“To hint at the use of nuclear weapons is afforded only by the terrorist state Russia,” Zelenskyy’s mouthpiece insisted. “You will never hear such calls from Ukraine.”
