(Bloomberg) -- The US sees no reason to adjust its nuclear posture in response to Russia’s decision to lower the threshold for using atomic weapons, a National Security Council spokesperson said.
The Russian decision wasn’t a surprise and is more of the same irresponsible rhetoric the country has used since invading Ukraine, according to the spokesperson, who commented on condition of anonymity.
The comments came after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing Russia to fire nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack on its soil that threatens its sovereignty, including by drones. The move followed a Biden administration decision to let Ukraine use long-range missiles provided by the US to strike Russian territory.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters the US doesn’t have any indication that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon inside Ukraine and wasn’t surprised by Putin’s change in doctrine.
She also declined to confirm that Ukraine had fired US-supplied ATACMS missiles into Russia, referring questions to the Ukrainians.
(Updates with comments from Pentagon spokesperson in final two paragraphs)
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