The US government has again warned Russia in no uncertain terms against the use of nuclear weapons. The consequences would be "extraordinary" and "real," US State Department spokesman Ned Price told CNN. This was also made very clear to Moscow. "We didn't give the Russians a shadow of a doubt," Price said. The US government means business. Price declined to say exactly what those consequences would be.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the mobilization of 300,000 reservists for the war of aggression against Ukraine - he also said: "If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will definitely use all available means to protect Russia and our people . This is not a bluff." Observers saw it as a threat to use nuclear weapons. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had already spoken of "catastrophic" consequences at the weekend.