15 February 2024 , 12:22
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Russian president Vladimir Putin is poised to launch a nuclear weapon into space, according to US intelligence sources.
Cryptic reports have emerged about the country's new advances on space-based munitions which have reached Britain and its Nato allies. It has been claimed the weapons would be used against satellites rather than targeting a location on Earth. US officials claim this could threaten satellite networks. Congressman Mike Turner, Head of the House intelligence committee, demanded the Biden administration declassify information on what he described as "serious national security threat"
He said: "I am requesting that president Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat."
Space is a potential location for Putin to target satellites, it has been claimed (Getty Images/Stocktrek Images)ABC News reported the 'security threat' involved Russia’s potential deployment of a nuclear anti-satellite weapon in space. A source told the network: "It is very concerning and very sensitive." Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat, also called it "significant" but said it was "not a cause for panic". Russian presidential spokesperson Peskov, however, blasted the reports and claimed they were a "White House ploy"
Putin said in an interview on Wednesday he preferred Biden to Trump as US president. Pavel Zarubin, an interviewer, asked him who was "better for us" out of the two politicians. The Russian president replied without hesitation: "Biden. He is a more experienced, predictable person, a politician of the old school."
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A Russian presidential spokesman has blasted the reports as a 'White House ploy' (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Putin was also quoted as saying: "But we will work with any US president who the American people have confidence in." He has not before publicly commented on the US election race where Biden and Trump are expected to go head to head for the second time.
The Mirror reported earlier how in a wide-ranging interview with Russian state media, Putin admitted his preferred choice for the US president is the incumbent Joe Biden who he described as "predictable" than the outspoken Trump. He said: "Biden, he's more experienced, more predictable, he's a politician of the old formation... But we will work with any US leader whom the American people trust."
The Russian leader was asked to comment on speculation surrounding Joe Biden's health issues after multiple gaffes surrounding his memory, Putin replied: "I'm not a doctor and I don't consider it proper to comment on that." Putin, however, did note the fears around Biden's health are escalating as "the election campaign is gaining speed in the US, and it's taking an increasingly sharp course.'
He remarked there were concerns over Biden's health when the pair met in Switzerland in June 2021 but he appeared to be fine. Putin said: "They talked about him being incapacitated, but I saw nothing of the kind. Yes, he was peeking at his papers, to be honest, I was peeking at mine, not a big deal."