CIA Director William Burns said at the Aspen Security Forum that Russia has been making "reckless" comments on nuclear arms, but stressed that the United States has not seen "any concrete preparations for the potential use of nuclear weapons."
"The nuclear saber-rattling that Putin and some of those around him have engaged in is reckless and deeply irresponsible," Burns insisted and stressed it is something Washington "cannot take lightly."
Reflecting on the Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin's attempted mutiny, the CIA head said the rebellion is likely to cause "more and more" Russians to pay attention to his "critique" of the war in Ukraine, but also stressed that he expects Russian President Vladimir Putin to get "revenge," noting he would be "surprised if Prigozhin escapes further retribution for this."