Biden warns Russia against using chemical weapons in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden warned in a speech Friday at the White House that Russia "will pay a heavy price if it uses chemical weapons" in Ukraine.
Westerners are concerned about the possibility of Moscow using chemical weapons in Ukraine, while Moscow accuses Washington and Kiev of setting up laboratories in Ukraine aimed at producing biological weapons, which the two capitals deny.
The UN Security Council will hold a meeting in this regard on Friday.
The Americans say they suspect the Russians are spreading "lies" to "accuse others of what they are planning to do".
"We will make sure that Ukraine has weapons to defend itself against the Russian invader," Biden added, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regretted Washington's refusal to hand over Polish fighters to Kyiv.
The US President indicated that the United States provided anti-tank weapons and defense systems capable of shooting down planes and helicopters.
He also pledged to "avoid a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia" because it would lead to a "third world war."
"We will not go to war against Russia in Ukraine, but we know that Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine will not be a victory for the Russian president," he said.
Biden also pledged to accept Ukrainian refugees in the United States "with open arms," without providing further details.
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