The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations warned on Tuesday that if Russia followed out its “horrific” threats of a nuclear strike against its adversaries, America will respond with all of its might.
Vladimir Putin‘s threats to deploy tactical nuclear weapons, according to Linda Thomas-Greenfield, were “irresponsible” while speaking to NBC News at a facility for displaced people in the village of Irpin, west of Kyiv.
“They deny that they would act in such a manner, but we are aware of Russia’s propensity for fabrication. We are concerned about their threats,” she stated. And we have made it clear to them in a private and direct message that they would be held accountable if they take such an action.
It is “out of the question” that Russia would deploy such weapons, according to Thomas-Greenfield, but should they do so, “they can be sure that the world will turn against them.”
They continue to threaten people. We take those threats seriously, as I’ve already mentioned, she continued.
She responded that she was focused on assisting Ukraine in any circumstance when questioned about this week’s key U.S. midterm elections and their potential impact on Washington’s support for Ukraine.
“Our backing is substantial and cross-partisan. Thomas-Greenfield met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday. “And I know that the president will continue to work with the Congress to ensure that we support Ukraine until this war is over and then we help them to rebuild,” she said.
President Joe Biden approved $40 billion in economic, humanitarian, and military help in May, and overall funding has reached at least $65 billion to date, making the US one of Ukraine’s staunchest backers. However, a senior Republican has just issued a warning that the GOP “is not going to hand a blank check to Ukraine.”
There are several needs in Ukraine, and Zelenskyy is persistent in asking the nation’s partners for assistance.
Four people who were there during the conversation said that Biden lost his cool as Zelenskyy named more assistance he need after the American president had already extended an additional $1 billion in support.
Thomas-Greenfield spent the day in Kyiv inspecting the damage and meeting with some of the people who had been displaced by Russia’s nine-month invasion, including a Red Cross employee who had reportedly been kidnapped and tortured.
“She was unable to adequately convey her experience. What the rest of the narrative is like I have no idea. I learned from what she could say that they had beaten her. Because of the beatings, she developed back problems,” Thomas-Greenfield said of the meeting. Her fingernails were damaged, as I could see.
The woman asked the ambassador whether she might assist in evacuating additional civilians from places affected by conflict.
According to Thomas-Greenfield, “thus, in her misery and her suffering, she was still thinking about how she may help other people.”
Despite previously declaring he would never deal with Putin, Zelenskyy stated on Monday that he was open to “serious peace negotiations” with Russia while upholding Ukraine’s demands for territorial integrity.
The Ukrainians must decide that, according to Thomas-Greenfield. “The United States did not make that decision. In order for Ukraine to be in a position of strength in any future negotiations with Russia, we want to see that country receive justice.
She also met Milena, age 10, one of six siblings whose home in the west of Kyiv town of Irpin was destroyed by the war.
Before claiming she just wanted to see her friends and return to school, the young girl asked the ambassador whether she could assist the Ukrainian people.
After seeing Milena, Thomas-Greenfield remarked, “She brought tears to my eyes.”
