The UK is “working urgently” to verify reports in recent hours that Russia used chemical weapons in an attack on the besieged Mariupolsaid the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Liz Tras stressed that any confirmed use of such weapons would be a “weak escalation” of the war.
“Any use of such weapons would be a harsh escalation in this conflict and Putin and his regime will be held accountable,” she said.
From his side, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a message overnight, noted that Russia could develop illegal chemical weapons, but did not confirm whether such attack in Mariupol.
“We are taking it very seriously,” he said, adding that “I would like to remind world leaders that the possible use of chemical weapons by the Russian military has already been discussed.”
“And already at that time it meant that it was necessary to react to Russian aggression much harder and faster.”
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne followed suit, saying that if the information was confirmed, it would be a “further violation” of international law.
In fact, Britain and its NATO allies have repeatedly warned that any move by Russian troops to develop chemical weapons would change the nature of the conflict.
The United States has made it clear that in the event of a chemical weapons use by Russia, it will respond, and the nature of the response will depend on the nature of the use.
Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s Azov Battalion denounced the use of chemical weapons by the Russian armed forces. in the besieged Mariupol. The far-right Ukrainian battalion specifically reported via Telegram that an unknown substance was dropped by a remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the city, leaving many people with respiratory problems and movement disorders.
The Ukrainian public television network Suspilne reported that so far there is no confirmation of this information from official sources.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an evening speech that the Russian armed forces could use chemical weapons, but did not specify whether they had already been used.
Kyiv and Western governments say the chances of Russia using chemical weapons in the war are “very high.”
“If the information is true it is deeply troubling,” says the Pentagon.
The U.S. government has said it is aware of reports from Mariupol that the Russian military has used chemical weapons.
The US Pentagon is not in a position to confirm the information, however, it is closely monitoring the situation, said its spokesman John Kerby.
“This information, if true, is deeply troubling and reflects the concerns we have expressed about the possibility of Russia using chemical weapons, or ‘tear gas mixed with chemical agents’ in Ukraine,” the Pentagon spokesman said.
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