Speaking during a fundraising event for the  Democratic Party on Thursday, US President Joseph Biden warned that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was not bluffing when he threatened to use nuclear or biological weapons in Ukraine, since, in the opinion of many military experts, his military is underperforming.

“I’m not sure if there’s any possibility of using a tactical weapon in war without us ending up with Armageddon,” he added. 

For some time now, we have not heard of or faced the possibility of “Armageddon” since US President John Kennedy’s era and the Cuban Missile crisis.

The Cuban Missile crisis  happened in 1962 when the Soviet Union stationed nuclear missiles in Cuba, close to the US mainland. It was the closest the world has ever come to having a nuclear confrontation. 

During one of his speeches, President Putin accused the US of setting a precedent by attacking Japan with nuclear weapons at the end of WWII, adding that he would use every means at his disposal to protect Russian territory.

Speaking to the press on Friday, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House spokeswoman, said that there are no signs of an imminent nuclear attack on Ukraine, adding that President Biden’s speech was referring to President Putin’s reckless and irresponsible rhetoric.

“For now, we don’t have any reason to adjust our nuclear strategic stand, nor do we have a clear indication that Russia is planning to use nuclear weapons.” She said the Biden administration is warning Moscow that the use of chemical or nuclear weapons cannot be used without any “unintended consequences.”

One US official said that there’s a concern within the administration that Russia is determined to employ a nuclear attack on Ukraine, and would only face a limited reaction or sanctions from the US and its Western Allies, who are determined to keep the conflict from being a broader war.

European leaders have played down Biden’s warnings, and French President Macron criticized Biden, saying that leaders should speak with care, especially on nuclear matters.

Charles Michel, the European Council President, told reporters that, “They are taking escalation seriously,” adding that threats will not intimidate them and they “continue to remain calm and keep their heads cool each time as they denounce the characters of irresponsible threats.”