Key Takeaways:
– Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accuses President Biden of potentially triggering nuclear warfare by providing weapons to Ukraine.
– The assertion stems from a report in The New York Times, suggesting that Biden might return nuclear weapons formerly in Ukraine’s possession.
– Ukraine surrendered many nuclear weapons following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, with these weapons returned to Russia in the 90s.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Throws Accusation
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, representing Georgia, has stoked controversy. She faults President Joe Biden, stating that his decision to supply Ukraine with weapons could potentially lead to a nuclear war. Greene voiced her concerns on X, a platform formerly known as Twitter.
Basing her claims on a brief mention in The New York Times, she alleges that the president’s administration is in the process of considering whether to return nuclear weapons to Ukraine. These are not any ordinary weapons, but the ones Ukraine had to give up following the fall of the Soviet Union.
Greene expressed her worry, stating that officials from the outgoing administration should face legal consequences if they provide nuclear weapons to Ukraine. In her view, sparking a nuclear war is an act of treason. Greene strongly believes that the American populaces do not support this.
History of Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine
After the disintegration of the USSR, Ukraine surrendered a significant quantity of nuclear weapons. Contrary to the narrative propagated by some, these weapons did not end up in the hands of the United States.
Rather, they were returned to Russia in the 1990s. In exchange, Russia compensated Ukraine with 100 tons of reactor fuels. Furthermore, Ukraine received safety assurances from not just Russia, but the U.S. and the U.K. as well.
Before parting with its arsenal of nuclear weapons, Ukraine had quite an impressive collection. Over 4,000 nuclear warheads, 176 intercontinental ballistic missiles, and 103 strategic bombers formed part of its arsenal. Having returned these weapons to Russia in 1996, Ukraine currently does not possess any nuclear weapons.
Feedback to Greene’s Claims
Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesperson, severely criticized the notion of the U.S. returning nuclear weapons to Ukraine. Labeling this as an absolutely irresponsible line of thinking, Peskov suggested that those advocating such a stance lack understanding and imagination of reality.
The matter of nuclear warfare has once again entered the conversation. This is mainly due to the recent actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In November, Putin tweaked the conditions dictating when Russia can launch a nuclear attack.
Just two days prior to Putin’s action, President Biden permitted Ukraine to employ U.S.-made non-nuclear weapons for long-range attacks into Russia. Obviously, this context intensifies the scrutiny and apprehension surrounding Greene’s statements.
To Sum Up
As the geopolitical situation continues to evolve, concerns and debates around nuclear warfare keep surfacing. Statements like those made by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene illustrate the polarized views on this sensitive issue. While the debate continues, it’s important to stay informed and understand the historical and current dynamics surrounding nuclear warfare.