Biden’s Apocalypse Scenario: The Moment a Nuclear Blast in Ukraine Seemed Plausible
TL/DR –
President Biden revealed classified information about Russia considering using nuclear weapons on Ukraine at a fundraiser in October 2022. The US had intercepted conversations among Russian military about the use and logistics of detonating a nuclear weapon on the battlefield, though no evidence of weapons being moved was found. The events caused worry at the White House and the Pentagon, with administration officials planning a response, and resulted in a series of diplomatic efforts to deter Russia from using nuclear weapons.
President Biden, at a liberal New York Democrats’ meeting in businessman James Murdoch’s townhouse, alarmed guests on Oct. 6, 2022 with an ominous prediction. Based on classified intercepted communications, he suggested that Putin’s threats to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine could soon be operational.
His stark warning indicated the first potential wartime use of a nuclear weapon since Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The intelligence revealed growing discussions within the Russian military about tapping into the nuclear arsenal.
Despite no evidence of weapons movement, the CIA warned of a rising nuclear threat if Ukrainian forces severely damaged Russian defences. A nuclear scenario was then viewed as a plausible prediction, not something to be dismissed lightly.
Gen. Mark A. Milley warned of the “nuclear paradox”, stating that the more successful Ukraine was in repelling Russian invasion, the more likely Russia was to threaten nuclear engagement. The prospect of a nuclear conflict, as described by officials, painted a terrifying picture of a new era where nuclear weapons were central to superpower competition.
Numerous reports, including a New York Times article and a CNN report, highlighted the extent of the White House’s concerns and preparations in the face of a possible nuclear attack.
Putin’s recent threats in his State of the Union address about the use of nuclear weapons brought about a renewed sense of alarm, suggesting that this issue remains far from resolved. His statements revolved around Russia’s capacity to strike targets in Europe or the U.S. with medium-range weapons, or intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The White House’s concerns led to the creation of task forces for response planning. The expectation was that the U.S. countermove would be nonnuclear, but some sort of dramatic reaction was needed to avoid emboldening other nuclear-armed authoritarians. The response could potentially include a conventional attack on the units that launched the nuclear weapons.
In an attempt to pre-empt nuclear action, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, and the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, contacted their Russian counterparts. Furthermore, Mr. Biden initiated an urgent meeting with Putin’s emissary, Sergei Naryshkin, to warn of the severe consequences if Russia used a nuclear weapon.
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