NATO Chief Says Russia Could Use Chemical Weapons

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Antalya, Turkey, March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

BERLIN, March 13 – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday that Russia could use chemical weapons after invading Ukraine and that such a move would be a war crime, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag said in an interview.

“In recent days, we have heard absurd claims about chemical and biological weapons laboratories,” Stoltenberg quoted Welt am Sonntag, adding that the Kremlin is inventing false pretexts to justify what cannot be justified.

“Now that these false claims have been made, we must remain vigilant, because it is quite possible that Russia itself could plan chemical weapons operations using this fabrication of lies. That would be a war crime,” Stoltenberg said.

He added that although the Ukrainian people courageously resisted the Russian invasion, the coming days are likely to bring even greater difficulties.

Report by Madeleine Chambers; Editing by Hugh Lawson

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