This week warned Mike Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, for a serious security threat – which sources told ABC News involved Russian nuclear weapons in space.
Now the White House confirms that Russia sent up military equipment.
– It is not an active capability that Russia has sent up, says John Kirby, spokesperson for the US National Security Council.
After the relationship between the West and the United States deteriorated since Russia’s war of invasion in Ukraine, an alarming email came to US congressmen on Wednesday.
There, the chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, Mike Turner, warned that a serious security threat had been directed at the country. Sources told ABC News that it was about Russia wanting to place nuclear weapons in space. John Kirby, the spokesman for the National Security Council, now states that Russia has launched secret military equipment into space, but that it is not a direct threat to anyone on Earth, AP reports.
– We are not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack people, he says.
“Very careful”
In his email, Mike Turner urged President Biden to act quickly and “make all information in the case available.” When the White House has now confirmed the reports in response, it is reluctant.
– We have been very careful and aware of what we want to make public. We want to minimize the risks of concern, says John Kirby.
Russia denies
And despite the downplaying of the threat, he emphasizes that it is serious that Russia threatens to attack satellites. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan announced Wednesday that Congress will continue to be briefed behind closed doors.
Russia denies the claims, saying it’s all about US domestic politics and the war in Ukraine.
– It is clear that the White House is trying to force Congress to vote through the aid package, whatever the cost, says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.