UPDATED: UK very concerned about the potential use of chemical weapons in Ukraine – Truss

LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) – Britain is very concerned about the potential use of chemical weapons by Russia in Ukraine, British foreign minister Liz Truss told CNN, warning that it would be a grave mistake for Russian President Vladimir Putin to use them.

Russia’s war in Ukraine entered a third week with none of its stated objectives reached, despite thousands of people killed, more than two million made refugees and thousands cowering in besieged cities under relentless bombardment. 

“We are very concerned about the potential use of chemical weapons,” Truss said.

“We have seen Russia use these weapons before in fields of conflict, but that would be a grave mistake on the part of Russia, adding to the grave mistakes already being made by Putin.”

The comments come a day after the United States denied renewed Russian accusations that Washington was operating biowarfare labs in Ukraine. It called the claims “laughable” and suggested Moscow may be laying the groundwork to use a chemical or biological weapon. 

Earlier on Thursday, Britain’s armed forces minister James Heappey was asked whether the use of chemical weapons might cross a ‘red line’ that led to cause NATO members becoming involved in the conflict.

“I don’t think it is helpful to get into any firm commitment right now about where that red line sits, but I think President Putin needs to be very clear that when other countries have used chemical weapons it has caused an international response,” he told BBC radio.

“I think he (Putin) should reflect very urgently on what has happened to other countries where they have used this.”

Russian military commanders as well as people at the very top of the Russian government will be held to account for any war crimes in Ukraine, Britain’s armed forces minister said on Thursday.

“Russian commanders need to remember that war crimes are not just committed by those at the very top of the Russian government,” James Heappey told Sky News.

“They are committed all the way down the chain of command by all who are involved and these atrocities are being watched, they’re being catalogued and people will be held to account.”

The Kremlin said on Thursday it would seek information from the Russian military after Ukraine accused Russia of bombing a children’s hospital in the besieged city of Mariupol.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also told reporters in a briefing that Ukraine was “constantly” proposing talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Photo issued by Ukrainian Emergency Services of the evacuation of the wounded after the bombing of a hospital in the besieged city of Mariupol