WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric around Moscow’s nuclear posture and warned of potential miscalculations.

“Provocative rhetoric regarding nuclear weapons is the highest form of irresponsibility.” Blinken told reporters at the State Department.

The nation’s highest diplomat stated that “It is dangerous” and added that it increases the chance of mistakes. He also said the U.S. had not made any changes to its nuclear arsenal.

Russia and the United States hold the majority of world’s nuclear weapons inventories combined. approximately 4,000 warheads each.

John Kirby (Peninsula) echoed these sentiments on Wednesday. He called Putin’s rhetoric unacceptable.

Kirby declared that “provocative rhetoric” and potential changes in nuclear postures involving most consequential weapons of our arsenal’s are unacceptable.

Kirby stated that Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense, delayed the planned launch of Minuteman III intercontinental missiles this week to show that “we are responsible nuclear powers.”

Kirby stated that “it’s not an indication that we will cancel any other routine activities in order to secure a credible nuclear capability.” Kirby also said that it was not a move backwards in readiness and that the U.S. is still confident with its strategic position.

Putin was in Moscow this weekend placed his nation’s nuclear forces on high alerttensions over Ukraine’s invasion. Putin spoke to his defense chiefs on Sunday, and cited NATO’s “aggressive remarks” against Russia as the reason for ordering the induction of nuclear weapons.

A top Biden official declared Putin’s nuclear-deterrence alert last week as “escalatory, totally unnecessary,”

The official said that Putin had made threats in an effort to justify more aggressive action at each stage of conflict. He was not under threat by Ukraine nor NATO. NATO is a defense alliance and will not be fighting in Ukraine.