No need to worry about nuclear war_Biden

US President Joe Biden says there is no need to worry about the possibility of a nuclear war, despite Russia putting its nuclear missile forces on special alert.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday ordered his defense minister to put the country’s nuclear deterrent on high alert as Russian forces continue to invade Ukraine.

A senior US Defense Department official told reporters on Monday that although they have been monitoring the situation, they have not yet seen anything specific resulting from the direction Putin gave, in terms of “noticeable muscle movements.”

Biden was asked by reporters whether US citizens should be concerned about a nuclear war breaking out. He responded, “No.”

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki criticized Putin, saying, “Provocative rhetoric like this regarding nuclear weapons is dangerous, adds to the risk of miscalculation, and should be avoided.”

Psaki said, “Neither the United States nor NATO has any desire or intention for conflict with Russia.”

She added, “We are assessing President Putin’s directive and, at this time, we see no reason to change our own alert levels.”

Meanwhile, the US government has decided to expel 12 Russian diplomats from Russia’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York.

The US mission to the UN announced on Monday they have informed the UN and the Russian side that “We are beginning the process of expelling twelve intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have abused their privileges of residency in the United States by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security.”

Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, says the 12 have been told to leave the US by March 7 as “personae non-gratae.”

Nebenzia criticized the US at the UN Security Council, noting that opportunities for diplomatic activity have been limited despite calls for a diplomatic solution.