The Pentagon says that it cannot confirm the use of chemical weapons by Russian forces in Ukraine "at this time", according to a senior U.S. official who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity.
The official said that the United States has no information to support the movement of chemical agents by Russia in or near Ukraine.
Under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, the production, use, and stockpiling of chemical weapons are banned. White phosphorous, however, which Russia has been accused of using recently is not banned under the convention.
"We're looking into this the best we can, but we're not in a position to confirm those reports" the official stated when asked about the use of chemical weapons in Mariupol, Ukraine.
"The biggest challenge is we're not there, and we don't know if anything was used. These are difficult things to prove even when you are more proximate" the official stated.
The official said that the United States has no information to support the movement of chemical agents by Russia in or near Ukraine.
Under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, the production, use, and stockpiling of chemical weapons are banned. White phosphorous, however, which Russia has been accused of using recently is not banned under the convention.
"We're looking into this the best we can, but we're not in a position to confirm those reports" the official stated when asked about the use of chemical weapons in Mariupol, Ukraine.
"The biggest challenge is we're not there, and we don't know if anything was used. These are difficult things to prove even when you are more proximate" the official stated.