"I am not going to talk about the intelligence, however Russia pays a extreme value in the event that they use chemical compounds," Biden stated following remarks asserting additional financial strikes towards Russia.
Whereas the US has to date not introduced any proof that Russia plans to make use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, the White Home, most notably, press secretary Jen Psaki has warned that the weapons might be used within the battle.
Russia may use chemical weapons in Ukraine or manufacture a "false flag" operation that makes use of them, Psaki stated Wednesday.
The press secretary, slamming what she referred to as false claims from Russia that the US is growing chemical weapons in Ukraine, tweeted, "Now that Russia has made these false claims, and China has seemingly endorsed this propaganda, we should always all be looking out for Russia to probably use chemical or organic weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation utilizing them. It is a clear sample."
She additionally famous Russia's "lengthy and well-documented observe document of utilizing chemical weapons" in addition to its sample of "accusing the West of the very violations that Russia itself is perpetrating."
The US authorities has beforehand discovered that the Russian authorities used chemical weapons in each the 2020 poisoning of Russian opposition chief Alexey Navalny and in 2018 towards Sergei and Yulia Skripal in England.
Each determinations by the US led to sanctions beneath the Chemical and Organic Weapons Management and Warfare Elimination Act, which requires the President to impose financial and diplomatic sanctions if a rustic is discovered to have used chemical weapons.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned earlier this yr of the potential of Russia finishing up a pretend or actual chemical weapons assault as a manufactured pretext for an invasion into Ukraine.
However his feedback got here earlier than Russia's full invasion started.
Moreover, the US has stated that Syria's Bashar al-Assad, whose regime is supported by Russia, has used chemical weapons on its folks dozens of occasions through the struggle there.
When requested about her tweets at Thursday's press briefing, Psaki declined to take a position on hypotheticals relating to the US response if Russia had been to make use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
"Nicely, they've a big organic and chemical weapons program. So it is a sample, however in addition they have the capability. Whereas I am not going to get into particular intelligence, we take a look at all of these elements," Psaki informed reporters.
She continued, "So the target (of the tweets) was to clarify the inaccuracy of the data and the misinformation they're making an attempt to place out and clarify to the world that they not solely have the capability, they've a historical past of utilizing chemical and organic weapons, and that on this second, we should always have our eyes open for that risk."
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She declined to take a position on whether or not there may be any signal of imminent use of chemical weapons by Russia in Ukraine.
Psaki was pressed on whether or not there can be a navy response from the US if Russia had been to conduct a chemical weapons assault, she stated the present US posture has not modified.
"I am not going to get into hypotheticals. What we're saying proper now's they've the capability and the capabilities. I am additionally not going to get into intelligence," she stated.
"However the President's intention of sending US navy to battle in Ukraine towards Russia has not modified."
Biden emphasised later Friday that the US is not going to ship floor troops into Ukraine.
"We is not going to battle the third world struggle in Ukraine," Biden stated throughout a speech in Philadelphia to the Home Democratic Caucus.
He added, "I need to be clear although, we're going to make it possible for Ukraine has the weapons to defend themselves of an invading Russian pressure. And we are going to ship cash and meals help to save lots of Ukrainians lives.
"We will welcome Ukrainian refugees with open arms if in actual fact they arrive all the way in which right here."
Throughout the speech, Biden additionally thanked Democratic Home members for his or her help of Ukraine, noting he spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday for about an hour.
Biden added that he speaks to the Ukrainian President "nearly every day." Biden harassed how necessary it's that the US and its allies transfer collectively on any strikes to counteract the Kremlin.
"I do know I've sometimes pissed off you, however extra necessary than us transferring after we need to is ensuring all of NATO is collectively, is collectively - they've completely different vulnerabilities than we do," Biden stated.
The White Home stated Friday that there are "sturdy indications" that Russia is committing struggle crimes in Ukraine, stopping in need of a declaration, which legally requires an investigation earlier than such an evaluation may be made.
"Now we have all seen the devastating photos popping out of Ukraine and are appalled by Russia's brutal techniques," White Home deputy press secretary Andrew Bates stated.
"Pregnant ladies on stretchers, condo buildings shelled, households killed whereas looking for security from this horrible violence.
"We're additionally seeing studies of different forms of potential abuses, together with sexual and gender-based violence."
He added, "These are disgusting assaults. Civilian casualties are growing. If Russia is deliberately concentrating on civilians, that might be a struggle crime. And as we're all seeing on reside tv, proof is mounting and we're documenting it because it takes place.
"There are sturdy indications that that is occurring and that the heinous method Russia is prosecuting this struggle will end in struggle crimes."
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield turned the highest-ranking US official to say that actions dedicated by Russia towards the Ukrainian folks represent struggle crimes, telling the BBC Thursday, "They represent struggle crimes; there are assaults on civilians that can not be justified by any -- in any method in any respect."
Different Biden administration officers haven't gone so far as to declare outright that Russia has dedicated struggle crimes - violations of worldwide legal guidelines of armed battle - and as a substitute have pointed to "credible studies" that such crimes have been carried out and their help for investigations into Moscow's actions.
Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday referenced "atrocities" dedicated by the Russians and stated that the UN ought to examine the allegations of Russian struggle crimes.
On Friday, Harris stated, "We're clear that any intentional assault or concentrating on of civilians is a struggle crime. Interval."
Bates stated the US helps the human rights activists, civil society and impartial media documenting, accumulating and exposing proof of attainable struggle crimes, human rights abuses and violations of worldwide humanitarian legislation.
The US will share that proof with allies and companions and can "help accountability" with each software obtainable, "together with prosecutions when acceptable," Bates stated.