Nato WILL respond if Putin uses chemical weapons, warns Joe Biden

RUSSIA could face a ­retaliatory chemical weapons attack if it unleashes deadly gases on innocent civilians in Ukraine, Joe Biden said yesterday.

The US President sounded the warning as world leaders met to discuss measures available to combat Vladimir Putin amid fears he could use the barbaric munitions.

Boris Johnson warned the ­Kremlin dictator would face “catastrophic consequences” if he dared do so, as concerned western chiefs stepped up preparations to ship out hazmat suits to war-torn Ukraine.

The PM did not rule out putting boots on the ground in the event of a chemical strike, as Mr Biden warned that the West could launch a “response in kind” at the landmark summit at Nato’s HQ.

It came as Nato stepped up chemical and nuclear defences and announced 6,000 soldiers in four new battalions would head to Eastern Europe to bolster the 40,000 already facing down Putin’s forces.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, pleaded with world leaders to send him “one per cent” of their aircraft and tanks.

In other developments: 

• VLADIMIR Putin’s spokesman declared Boris Johnson enemy number one for leading the world in response to Russia’s aggression; 
• THE US vowed to put up 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and provide $1billion more help;
• PRESIDENT Biden said the US would ship liquified gas to Europe to try to help countries wean themselves off Russia’s fuel;
• BRITAIN slapped sanctions on another slew of Russian oligarchs and banking chiefs, and; 
• RUSSIAN TV warned of nuclear war if Nato sends in troops to the region.

Mr Johnson told the Brussels mega-summit of EU and G7 chiefs that using chemical, biological or nuclear weapons would be “catastrophic” for Putin.

He said: “There is a visceral ­horror of the use of these weapons of mass destruction. I think that if Putin were to engage in anything like that, the consequences would be very, very severe.”

He added that the Alliance must maintain “ambiguity” to keep Putin second guessing their response.

The PM pleaded with world leaders not to abandon President Zelensky — but admitted Britain could not provide him with the tanks and jets he has asked for.

French President Emmanuel ­Macron also ruled out sending tanks and warplanes to Ukraine as it risked making the EU a “co-belligerent” in the war.

Slovenian PM Janez Jansa warned that Russia could unleash a “catastrophe” on Europe by accidentally shelling a chemical plant.

He told Putin such a scenario “could” trigger Nato’s Article 5 defence clause that states an attack on one is an attack on all.

The new troops announced yesterday will be posted to Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Brit troops are already stationed in Poland and Estonia and will play a part in the new forces plan.

But behind closed doors, officials talked down the possibility of ­triggering an aggressive response, saying it would make too many countries “direct” targets.

And they admitted that the huge package of international sanctions was not pushing Putin to change his mind about the disastrous war. 

Senior officials also played down the prospect of putting Nato boots on the ground in Ukraine.

 Poland raged at other EU leaders for urging Mr Zelensky to make concessions in ongoing peace talks. President Biden would only say it was “their judgment to make” if they wanted to negotiate.

Whitehall sources said the PM had been privately urging Mr Biden to stand firm for as long as possible, insisting Ukraine should get to decide its own destiny.

In a virtual address to the allies yesterday, President Zelensky urged the leaders for “one per cent of all your planes, one per cent of all your tanks” but it appeared his demand would not be met.

Piling fresh pressure on Western nations to step up their help he said it would show “who is a friend, who is a partner and who has sold out and betrayed us”.

Mr Johnson, meanwhile, praised the Ukrainian leader, right, saying: “Volodymyr Zelensky has proved to be one of the most extraordinary war leaders of recent times.

“He has marshalled world opinion and mobilised his country.

 “What he wants from us is more diplomatic pressure around the world. He wants tighter economic sanctions on the Putin regime.

“He wants some very specific military support, defensive military support for the Ukrainian armed forces and that we are determined to provide.”

 Mr Johnson hailed him as Ukraine’s Churchill in their darkest hour. He told LBC: “He knows, as Churchill said of himself, he may not have been the lion but he’s been privileged to give the roar.”