News - Middle East: US President Joe Biden has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against thoughts of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, while Putin’s spokesman advised Washington of Moscow’s nuclear “red line”. 

Russia has on numerous previous occasions stated that it does not contemplate the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine
Biden said on Friday Moscow would become a global pariah if it uses weapons of mass destruction on the former Soviet state.

In an interview with a US media outlet, Biden was asked what his message to Putin would be if he felt the best way to operate in Ukraine was to use nuclear or chemical weapons against Kiev's forces. 

The US president replied "don't, don't, don't", adding that such a decision would "change the face of war unlike anything since World War Two".

If Russia launches a nuclear or chemical attack on Ukraine, it would “become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been,” and America’s response would depend “on the extent of what they do,” Biden said in the interview with CBS News.

The Kremlin's reply

In response to Biden's warning, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov gave reporters this short answer on Saturday, "Read the doctrine. Everything is written there," RIA Novosti reported.

The Russian nuclear doctrine allows the country to use nukes in two conditions. First, when "Russia  or its ally [is under attack] with the use of mass destruction weapons," and second, "when the very existence of the state is under threat."

In the meantime, Russian nuclear forces remain on high alert.

However, Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu gave an assurance last month that from the military standpoint Russia has "no need" to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.