Russia warns of direct clash with West over Ukraine military support
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The Russian Foreign Minister has voiced concerns about the support provided to Ukraine by the West, particularly the United States, Britain, and France.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, January 18, 2024. (AP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed concerns in his video address to the participants of the Moscow Conference on Nonproliferation on Monday that the support of Ukraine by the United States, Britain, and France was heightening significant strategic risks.
Lavrov warned that this situation had escalated the possibility of a direct confrontation between the largest nuclear powers in the world.
The Russian Foreign Minister stated that the United States and NATO were fixated on achieving a "strategic defeat" against Russia, emphasizing the dangers inherent in such a confrontational approach that could elevate the risk of nuclear escalation.
"The Westerners are teetering dangerously on the brink of a direct military clash between nuclear powers, which is fraught with catastrophic consequences," Lavrov said.
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The United States and its allies assert that their assistance to Ukraine aims to bolster its defense in the ongoing war. They claim that it is Russia's actions that are exacerbating tensions between East and West, highlighted by their repeated warnings regarding the threat of a nuclear conflict.
Lavrov said, "Of particular concern is the fact that it is the 'troika' of Western nuclear states that are among the key sponsors of the criminal Kiev regime, the main initiators of various provocative steps. We see serious strategic risks in this, leading to an increase in the level of nuclear danger."
It is worth noting that the trio of Western nations possessing nuclear capabilities comprises the United States, Britain, and France.
He further affirmed that Russia is prepared to revisit discussions on ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) once the United States follows suit.
"The withdrawal of ratification of the treaty by Russia was a logical response to the ... destructive actions of the United States and other Western countries. At the same time, we remain a full-fledged participant in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Not long ago, we completed the creation of our segment of the International Monitoring System. We are ready to return to the issue of ratifying the treaty as soon as the United States does so," he stressed.
Amid what he described as a comprehensive hybrid warfare campaign targeting Russia, Lavrov declared that there is currently no basis for engaging in discussions with the United States regarding arms control and broader strategic stability.
Lavrov accused Western powers of attempting to impose restrictions on the nuclear arsenals of Russia and China while simultaneously advancing non-nuclear capabilities to achieve unilateral military dominance.
West's campaign to undermine Russia's reputation
In a scathing critique, Lavrov asserted that the West is actively constructing a global missile defense system aimed at neutralizing adversaries. Additionally, he accused Western nations of stationing nuclear weapons in Europe, deploying medium- and short-range missiles in various regions around the world, and planning to deploy weapons in outer space.
The top Russian official also stated that the West is conducting a propaganda campaign to undermine Russia's reputation. He claimed that the objective of this campaign is to shift the focus of the international community away from genuine threats in outer space and instead secure additional financial resources to enhance their own military space capabilities.
"Our priority remains the development of an international legally binding instrument that establishes reliable guarantees to prevent the deployment of weapons in outer space," he stressed.
Read more: The Looming Threat of Nuclear War
