On Feb. 26, two days after Russia invaded Ukraine, President Joe Biden established the “Tiger Team” for the task of preparing America’s response to a possible Russian use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. On Feb. 28, national security adviser Jake Sullivan attached an auxiliary group to the Tiger Team.

Speaking to the NATO summit in Brussels nearly a month later, on Friday, March 23, Biden was asked how he would respond to Russia’s use of weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine. “The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use,” he replied. Sen, Jack Reed, Chair of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, added to this comment last Wednesday. “There would be consequences,” he said, “even if the weapon’s use was confined to Ukraine.”