...MARGARET BRENNAN: Vladimir Putin will carry out this annexation of eastern Ukraine within the next few days. If Russia is expanding its NUCLEAR UMBRELLA over this part of the country. Does that put the US in more direct conflict with Russia? And does a nuclear weapon being used there, p-put Russia in conflict directly with the US and NATO?
JAKE SULLIVAN: We have been crystal clear up to and including President Biden that we will not recognize the sham referenda, they in no way represent the will of the Ukrainian people. And we will treat this territory for what it is - Ukrainian territory, not Russian territory. And we will continue to support the Ukrainians as they seek to de[-]occupy this territory. So we've been clear, we're not going to stop or slow down our support to the Ukrainians, no matter what Putin tries to do with these-these fake elections and fake referenda and annexation. Now, when it comes to the question of nuclear use, President Putin's been waving around the nuclear card < wipes tears > at various points through this conflict the last few days are not the first time-
BRENNAN: -But he hasn't been as cornered as he is now.
SULLIVAN: It's true, and it is a matter that we have to take deadly seriously because it is a matter of paramount seriousness - the possible use of NUCLEAR WEAPONS for the first time since the Second World War [August 1945]. We have communicated directly, privately, at very high levels to the Kremlin, that any use of NUCLEAR WEAPONS will be met with catastrophic consequences for Russia, that the United States in our allies will respond decisively. And we have been clear and specific about what that will entail. We have, in public, been equally clear, as a matter of principle, that the United States will respond decisively if Russia uses NUCLEAR WEAPONS and that we will continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend its country and defend its democracy.
BRENNAN: Russia has been talking about this power plant rather than NUCLEAR WEAPONS just for the past 24 hours. Where does that fall? Is this an escalating threat?
SULLIVAN: So, for your viewers, there is a nuclear power plant < wipes tears > that is in Russian occupied portions of Ukraine. It has been put into cold shutdown to make it less likely that there's some kind of catastrophic incident at the plant. It is actually still being operated by the Ukrainian operators who are essentially at GUNPOINT from the Russian occupying forces. And the Russians have been consistently implying that there may be some kind of accident at this plant. ...