White House: No record of chemical weapons use in Ukraine so far

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told a news conference on Thursday that there was no record of chemical weapons being used in Ukraine so far. The clarification came after the warning that chemical or biological weapons could be used by Russia.

“There were no chemical weapons attacks at that time. We are talking about Russia’s possibility or ability to use these weapons, based on Russia’s past.”

According to the spokeswoman, the US decision not to send US troops to fight in Ukraine remains and there is no projection of what the consequences will be if Vladimir Putin authorizes an offensive using chemical weapons.

“Nothing will go unanswered from the United States. We have not let anything go unanswered thus far, none of the steps taken by Putin have gone unanswered,” she said.

The chemical weapons issue came to the fore on Wednesday after the White House dismissed Russia’s allegations of alleged US involvement in biological weapons laboratories and chemical weapons development in Ukraine.

“Russia is targeting civilians and that would be a war crime, but we need a legal assessment before that can be said,” said Jen Psaki.

Civilian safety

Commenting on the attack on a hospital unit on Wednesday, Psaki said that “bombing a maternity hospital is brutal, cruel. I don’t think anyone who sees this can not have a massive impact.”

Faced with the US claim that the attack on the maternity hospital was deliberately carried out by Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the accusation is false and amounts to “information terrorism”.

Regarding the refugees from the war – which according to the UN already exceed 2 million people – the spokeswoman said that the assessment is that most will remain in places close to their homeland.

“We are helping neighboring countries that are receiving these Ukrainian refugees and that are providing the necessary assistance at this time. That is where we are focusing our efforts.”