US intelligence indicated there was a 50% chance Putin would use nuclear weapons if Ukrainian forces succeeded in encircling 30,000 Russian troops in Kherson, the book said. We are talking about the year 2022 – the time after the recovery of the Kharkiv region, when the Ukrainian army focused on the liberation of Kherson.
The book says that White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan looked at the intelligence assessment with horror at the end of September 2022, seven months after Russia’s repeated invasion of Ukraine. Judging by this, the probability that Russia could use nuclear weapons had increased to 50% from the previous 5% to 10%. This caused serious concern in the administration of US President Joe Biden.
Woodward’s book says that Biden told Sullivan to contact the Russians and explain what the US response would be. The president has Sullivan take a threatening tone, but not too much. Biden is also said to have directly addressed Putin, warning of the catastrophic consequences expected if Russia uses nuclear weapons.
The book also discusses former US President Donald Trump’s talks with Putin, Biden’s dissatisfaction with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other topics.
Woodward’s book goes on sale next week.