Russian Foreign Minister: The risk of nuclear war should not be underestimated

In an interview with state television, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that “in essence”, NATO is engaged in a proxy war with Russia by supplying Ukraine with weapons. He said the core of any agreement on ending the conflict in Ukraine would largely depend on the military situation on the ground.

When asked about the importance of preventing World War III from happening and whether the current situation can be compared with the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, the Russian foreign minister replied, Moscow has done a lot to uphold the principle of preventing nuclear war at all costs.

“This is the main stance on which we base everything. The risks are now worth considering,” Reuters quoted Lavrov as saying. “I don’t want to artificially inflate those risks. Many people want that. The danger is serious, real. And we shouldn’t underestimate it.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defended Russia’s special military operation and blamed Washington for the lack of dialogue. “The US has practically stopped all communications simply because we have an obligation to protect the Russians in Ukraine.”

Lavrov said the West’s supply of sophisticated weapons to Kiev, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, armored vehicles and advanced drones, was a provocative measure calculated to prolong the conflict.

“These weapons will be a legitimate target for Russian military action while the special operation is ongoing,” he explained.

Moscow has repeatedly warned NATO against sending weapons to Ukraine and has vowed to treat arms convoys as legitimate military targets. On April 23, Russia announced that it had destroyed the warehouse Weapons provided by the US and EU to Ukraine.