A Vladimir Putin spokesperson has refused to rule out using nuclear weapons while speaking on US television.
The spokesperson for the Kremlin was asked three times on CNN if Russia would rule out using nuclear weapons.
Several Western leaders and intelligence agencies have been warning for days that Russian president Vladimir Putin may resort to ‘desperate measures’.
During the CNN broadcast, Dmitry Peskov adamantly refused to rule out the use of nukes and the possibility of Vladimir Putin ‘pressing the button’.
Mr Peskov recently said that Ukraine poses a direct threat to Russia’s security.
The Kremlin spokesman deflected and suggested that Putin could use nuclear weapons in Ukraine if there was an ‘existential threat’.
In response to the unsettling comments by Peskov, John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, ultimately slammed the discourse as extremely 'dangerous'.
Mr Kirby put forward it was not the way a powerful figure should behave and said: “Not the way a responsible nuclear power should act."
Kirby insisted US surveillance is constant and that Russia’s nuclear inventory is being monitored, with no clear indication that Russia is preparing to use the nuclear weapons.
It is believed that Russia’s arsenal is one of the world's largest at 6,500 warheads.
There are fears that Russia could get tactical, and attempt to use a low scale nuclear weapon in a bid for the invasion to go in Russia’s favour.
The former US defence Secretary Leon Panetta joined John Kirby in saying that Russia was searching for a justifiable cause to use nuclear arsenal, and said Peskov's remarks show Russia is 'looking for a possible excuse for the use of low-yield nuclear weapons.'
Mr Panetta said: “Using the weapons would be based on a very false premise that somehow Russia is being threatened.
“I don’t know that it’s going to happen. I still think that Putin has to worry about how the US would respond and he has to worry about his own survival.”
The invasion of Ukraine began on February 24th, when Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to anyone 'who might be tempted to meddle in the ongoing events: whoever tries to stand in our way or create threats for our country.'
In response to what Putin perceived as ‘aggressive statements’ made by NATO allies, his threat focused on the West.
He made the threat and said: “People should know Russia’s response will be immediate and lead you to consequences you have never encountered in your history.”
Ukrainian forces remain in control of all major cities across the country except for the regional capital of Kherson, where Russian forces have been attempting to recapture areas.
Ukraine added cause for concern and warned Russian forces appear to be manufacturing man-made catastrophes at either the Chernobyl or Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants.
Ukraine's generals believe Russian forces only have enough supplies to last three more days, while Western experts have said Russian forces are running low on stock.
Russian forces already have a high death toll as low stock will leave them vulnerable to counterattacks.
On Monday night, a Pro-Kremlin tabloid published figures crediting the Defence Ministry, and it is estimated around 10,000 troops have been killed so far, as figures for both sides differ.
The US estimates there have been around 7000 Russian forces have died, while Ukraine estimates around 15,000 Russian troops have died.
The Ukrainian President Zelensky has said around 1,300 troops have died in the fighting, but it is seen as an underestimation.
