US Ambassador: Russia to feel more consequences if it uses chemical weapons in Ukraine

What we see happening is, again, this is a false attempt by the Russian flag. They're advancing what they might intend to do. We've seen it happen before. They're the ones who used chemical weapons... And we're concerned that they can use chemical weapons in Ukraine,” said Thomas-Grenfield for CNN.

If they escalate to this level, we will respond aggressively to what they are doing. You've seen the consequences of our actions against Russia and Putin so far, and they're feeling those consequences. And they will feel more if they make this unfortunate decision to use chemical weapons,” she added.

The US and NATO have cautioned that Russia can use chemical weapons or create a false “fuel operation where they are used in its attack against Ukraine. Earlier this month, President Joe Biden also warned Russia “will pay a heavy price if I use” chemicals.

The US discovered earlier that the Russian government used chemical weapons in poisoning Russian opposition leader Alexey Navajo in 2020 and in 2018 against Sergei and Yulia Scripal in England. Both definitions led to sanctions according to the Chemical and Biological Arms Control Act and War Elimination, which requires the president to impose economic and diplomatic sanctions if a country is found to have used chemical weapons.

The US has also said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime is backed by Russia, has used chemical weapons on its people dozens of times during the war.