CIA Chief: Can't take Russia nuke threat lightly

(Atlanta, GA) -- CIA Director William Burns says Russia's threat to potentially use nuclear weapons can't be taken lightly.

But, in a speech Thursday at Georgia Tech, Burns said the CIA hasn't seen much evidence to reinforce that concern. However, Burns also said, given what he called the potential desperation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heavy losses of Russian forces, "none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a potential resort to tactical or low-yield nuclear weapons."

The Kremlin said it put Russian nuclear forces on high alert soon after launching its unprovoked war on Ukraine.