US blasts Putin nuclear order as ‘unacceptable,’ considers additional sanctions

The United States and NATO on Sunday condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to place his nuclear forces on excessive alert as harmful and unacceptable, whereas the White House mentioned it has not dominated out imposing new sanctions on Russia’s vitality sector.

In issuing the order to arrange Russia’s nuclear weapons for elevated readiness for launch, Putin cited “aggressive statements” from NATO allies and widespread sanctions imposed by Western nations.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, informed CBS’s “Face the Nation” program that Putin’s actions have escalated the battle and had been “unacceptable.”

Thomas-Greenfield mentioned the United States was “continuing to look at new and even harsher measures against the Russians.”

At the Pentagon, a senior U.S. protection official additionally described Putin’s nuclear order as an escalation and mentioned it was “putting in play forces that, if there’s a miscalculation, could make things much, much more dangerous.”

The United States is attempting to find out what Putin’s order means “in tangible terms,” the official mentioned, talking on situation of anonymity.

On CNN’s “State of the Union” program, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg known as Putin’s nuclear order “aggressive” and “irresponsible.”

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki mentioned Putin was responding to an imaginary risk.

“We’ve seen him do this time and time again. At no point has Russia been under threat from NATO, has Russia been under threat from Ukraine,” Psaki mentioned on ABC’s “This Week” program.

U.S. APPEALS TO CHINA

The United States has not taken sanctions focusing on Russia’s vitality sector off the desk, Psaki mentioned.

“But we also want to do that and make sure we’re minimizing the impact on the global marketplace and do it in a united way,” she added.

The Biden administration has fearful that its sanctions might increase already-high fuel and vitality costs within the United States and has taken steps to mitigate that. When it issued sanctions focusing on main Russian banks on Thursday, it allowed an exception for energy-related transactions.

In the administration’s most pressing public enchantment but to China, Psaki urged the Communist state to subject a proper condemnation of Russia’s invasion.

“This is not a time to stand on the sidelines,” Psaki mentioned on MSNBC. “This is a time to be vocal and condemn the actions of President Putin and Russia invading a sovereign country.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi mentioned on Friday that China respects international locations’ sovereignty, together with Ukraine’s, however that Russia’s issues about NATO’s eastward growth must be correctly addressed.

Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress continued to take an more and more sharp tone towards Putin, displaying that for now each events are largely backing the Biden administration’s efforts.

Representative Kevin McCarthy, the highest Republican within the House of Representatives, informed the Fox News Channel following the Russian president’s nuclear order that “no country in the world should stand with Putin.”

On CNN, Senator Mitt Romney, a former Republican presidential nominee, known as Putin “a small, evil feral-eyed man who is trying to shape the world in the image where once again Russia would be an empire – and that’s not going to happen.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday introduced $54 million in new humanitarian support for Ukrainians affected by the invasion, which was along with the $350 million despatched by the United States final week.

“This includes the provision of food, safe drinking water, shelter, emergency health care, winterization, and protection,” Blinken mentioned in an announcement.

Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s majority chief, mentioned the White House’s request for a further $6.4 billion in support could be taken up by the Senate within the coming days.