The White House has remained tight lipped over reports that Moscow has used chemical weapons within Ukraine

The United States will not confirm whether Russian forces have deployed chemical weapons during their invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was responding to a warning by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia may deploy chemical agents to weaken and incapacitate Ukraine’s military.

Blinken says there is credible information Russia may use a combination of chemical agents as part of its attempt to take the besieged city of Mariupol.

Speaking shortly after, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price added the United States has provided appropriate equipment to Ukrainians to safeguard them from such attacks and assist them with their fight against the Kremlin.

Putin’s rare appearance

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also made a rare public appearance, using it to defend what he is describing as a “noble” war.

The Russian leader has largely stepped out of the spotlight after his forces were driven away from the capital of Kyiv, and into eastern Ukraine.

Putin says peace talks with his neighbouring nation have come to a “dead end”… and Moscow has no choice but to intervene and protect Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region.

Any signs of war crimes being committed by Russian troops are “fake”, according to the Russian president.

He also says Russia’s economy is holding up despite ever-increasing sanctions imposed by the West.

When asked whether the operation in Ukraine would achieve its goals, Putin told reporters “absolutely. I don’t have any doubt at all.”