In 2022, I believed Russia could use nuclear weapons, says CIA chief

In 2022, I believed that Russia could use nuclear weapons, – CIA Director Yaroslav Pogonchuk

The CIA Director Believed That Russia Could Actually Use Nuclear Weapons/Collage by Channel 24

The Kremlin has repeatedly threatened Ukraine and the West with the use of nuclear weapons. At the same time, CIA Director Bill Burns said that these threats should not be feared.

Burns said that Vladimir Putin is a “bully” who rattles nuclear weapons from time to time. He also said that he conveyed a clear warning to Russia from Joe Biden about the consequences of the possible use of such weapons.

Should we be afraid of Russia's nuclear threats

Putin is a bully. He will continue to rattle his weapons from time to time. We cannot afford to be intimidated by this saber rattling… We have to remember that, – the CIA director said.

Burns also admitted that at one point he did believe that Russia could resort to the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

“There was a point in the fall of 2022 when I believed that there was a real risk of potential use of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia in Ukraine,” Burns said.

However, he noted that these concerns should not be taken too seriously.

The CIA director said that in November 2022, he personally met with the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin in Turkey and conveyed to him a warning from Joe Biden, “to clearly explain what would be consequences” in case of use of nuclear weapons.