Pentagon: If Putin uses chemical weapons, international response "will be significant"

The United States and the international community stand ready to provide a significant response to any attempt by Russian forces to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine.

This was stated by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Ukrinform's own correspondent reports.

"Of course, if he (Putin - ed.) employs a chemical, biological weapon, I think he will see a reaction from the international community because that’s a pretty serious step," said the U.S. Secretary of Defense.

He recalled that the administration and President Joe Biden personally had repeatedly warned the Kremlin about this. However, Austin said, such likelihood remains in place.

"I certainly hope that he (Putin - ed.) chooses to not do that. Again, I think the international response will be significant," the Pentagon chief said.

At the same time, the U.S. Secretary of Defense noted that Putin could end the war in Ukraine today.

"It's a war of his choice. He could choose to stop fighting and withdraw his troops from Ukraine. And, again, this is the decision of one man," said Lloyd Austin.

As Ukrinform reported, the Pentagon chief said on Tuesday that the unprecedented international rapid assistance to Ukraine in the field of security and defense has significantly changed the situation on the ground, massively strengthening Ukrainian forces, and this support will only increase in the future.