Joe Biden Doesn’t See Vladimir Putin Using Nukes Despite Arms Treaty Break

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden he said Vladimir Putin had made the world less safe by suspending participation in the New PRINCIPLE nuclear treaty, but added that he did not believe it signaled that the Russian leader would use nuclear weapons.
Putin made a big mistake, Biden told reporters Wednesday in Warsaw before a meeting with a group of eastern NATO allies known as the Bucharest Nine.
I don’t read that he’s thinking about using nuclear weapons or anything like that, Biden said in an interview with ABC News released later Wednesday, adding that the Russian presidents decision was not very responsible though.
We were less safe when we pulled out of arms control agreements that are largely in the interests of both parties and the interests of the world, Biden continued. But I haven’t seen anything where there’s a change in his attitude, what they’re doing. The idea that somehow this means they are thinking of using intercontinental ballistic missile nuclear weapons there is no evidence for that.
Putin said during his state of the nation address on Tuesday that Russia would suspend compliance with the treaty and not allow the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to inspect its nuclear facilities.
The treaty seeks to limit the development of intercontinental nuclear weapons by both Russia and the US by allowing checks on each country’s program.
Biden after taking office in 2021 extended the nuclear treaty by five years until 2026. The State Department accused Russia last month of violating the terms of the treaty by refusing to allow inspectors.