NATO will respond if Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine: US President Biden
US President Joe Biden and Western allies pledged new sanctions and humanitarian aid on Thursday in response to Vladimir Putin’s assault on Ukraine.
The Western leaders spent Thursday crafting next steps to counter Russia’s month-old invasion, and huddling over how they might respond should Putin deploy chemical, biological or even a nuclear weapon.
The leaders met in a trio of emergency summits that had them shuttling across Brussels for back-to-back-to-back meetings of NATO, the Group of Seven industrialized nations and the 27-member European Council.
The US President in a press conference said, that NATO would “respond” if Russian President Vladimir Putin used a chemical weapon in his war on Ukraine.
During the address, Biden asserted that NATO is more united than ever amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
He said he was determined to not only sustain ongoing efforts on Ukraine but to also build on them.
Biden also said Russia should be removed from the G20. At the same time, he said Ukraine should be able to attend G20 meetings.
Biden also announced over $2 billion military aid for Ukraine and $1 billion in assistance for Ukrainians impacted by the war.
BORIS JOHNSON: UK RAMPING UP LETHAL AID FOR UKRAINE
Addressing a press conference following NATO summit and G7 meeting, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Britain has promised 6,000 additional missiles and will more than double the lethal aid the UK has already provided for Ukraine.
Johnson said he “absolutely” is not anti-Russian and NATO members viewed the notion of chemical, biological, tactical nuclear weapons being used in Ukraine with “utter horror”.
He added if Putin were to engage in anything like that “the consequences would be very, very severe”. Johnson said Ukraine is “not alone” in its fight against Russia’s attack.
Earlier, Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy virtually addressed the NATO summit in Brussels.
He said his country needed fighter jets, tanks, anti-ship weapons and improved air defense to repel Russian troops as the war enters its second month.
He also warned that Russian forces would next target alliance members in eastern Europe including Poland.
He also urged members of the NATO alliance to act as allies of Ukraine, even though it is not a member nation and has given up on its claim to join the alliance.
Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly on Thursday approved a resolution blaming Russia for humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and urged immediate ceasefire.
The 193-member General Assembly resumed its 11th Emergency Special Session on Ukraine and voted on a draft resolution ‘Humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine’ by Ukraine and its western allies.
The resolution adopted on Thursday demands the protection of civilians, medical personnel, aid workers, journalists, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure.
It also demands an end to the siege of cities, in particular Mariupol.
The resolution was adopted with 140 votes in favour, 38 abstentions and five against. India abstained from voting on the resolution by Ukraine and its allies.
Earlier, India, along with 12 other UN Security Council members, had abstained on a resolution by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
It failed to get adopted in the Council on Wednesday as it did not get the required nine yes votes to pass.
U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TO VISIT POLAND
Meanwhile, after completing his visit to Brussels, the US President will visit Poland today.
Energy and refugee issues are expected to be at the center of talks between US President and Poland President Andrzej Duda.
Poland is a crucial ally in the Ukraine crisis. It is hosting thousands of American troops and is taking in more people fleeing the war in Ukraine — more than 2 million — than any other nation in the midst of the largest European refugee crisis in decades.
