Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons 'not impossible': Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin

United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Sunday's edition of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS that Russian President Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons in retaliation for catastrophic losses in his "special military operation" in Ukraine is not out of the realm of possibility.

Host Fareed Zakaria noted that "part of Russia's annexation" of four regions of Eastern Ukraine on Friday "is the statement by President Putin, that he has made twice, that these territories are now Russian and that he will defend these Russian territories with every means possible. And Russian media has interpreted that to mean, very specifically, nuclear weapons, as has [former President] Dmitry Medvedev."

Putin's move has been condemned by the US and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies as illegal. “We must liberate our entire land," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared.

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Zakaria added that "this seems to raise the stakes enormously. What do you think of the fact that Vladimir Putin is essentially saying at this point that if he feels there is an attack from NATO, I suppose, on Russian territory – which now includes all of the Donbas – he reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response?" he asked.

“Again, it's an illegal claim," Austin replied of Putin's land grab.

"It's an irresponsible statement," he continued. "This nuclear saber-rattling is not the kind of thing that we would expect to hear from leaders of large countries with capability. And so, what we can expect to see? What can expect that Ukrainians will continue to move forward and attempt to take back all of the territory within their sovereign borders. And so I don't think that's gonna stop. And we will continue to support them in their efforts."

Austin went on to say that "there are no checks on Mr. Putin. Just as he made the irresponsible decision to invade Ukraine, you know, he could make another decision. But I don’t see anything right now that would lead me to believe he has made such a decision.”

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