Moscow, September 23, 2024 – The Europe Today: Russia has no intention of initiating a nuclear war, and its warnings regarding the escalation of the Ukraine conflict are being misrepresented as threats to use atomic weapons, according to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Speaking in an interview with Sky News Arabia, Lavrov clarified that while Russia possesses weapons capable of severe consequences for Ukraine’s Western backers, it does not seek to employ them.
Lavrov’s comments come as fears of a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO grow, with increasing discussions among Western states about allowing Ukraine to launch missile strikes deep within Russian territory. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any such action would be interpreted as the West’s direct involvement in the conflict, prompting an “appropriate response” from Moscow. Some interpreted this to mean Russia was prepared to use nuclear weapons.
Lavrov, however, dismissed such interpretations as unfounded. “We speak of red lines, counting on the fact that our assessments will be understood by rational decision-makers. Suggesting that Russia would push the ‘red button’ if its demands are not met is inappropriate,” Lavrov stated, emphasizing that “nobody wants a nuclear war.”
He reiterated that Russia also opposes any further escalation of the Ukraine conflict that might draw NATO in as an active participant. However, Lavrov warned that such involvement would be inevitable if Ukraine is permitted to use long-range weapons inside Russian territory.
“This would constitute a direct NATO war against Russia… Although NATO is already waging a hybrid war through Ukraine, the use of long-range missile systems by Kiev would require direct involvement from Western specialists,” Lavrov explained. He accused Western officials who support allowing Ukraine to target Russian territory of behaving irresponsibly, akin to “a child playing with matches.”
Despite restrictions on Ukraine’s use of certain long-range weapons supplied by Western nations, Kyiv has already employed these systems to attack Russian territories, particularly in Crimea and Donbass, often targeting civilians. Recently, the US and UK have indicated potential support for Ukraine’s use of such weapons to strike deeper into Russia. In a related move, the European Parliament has passed a resolution urging the EU to permit Ukraine to attack targets within Russia using Western-supplied arms.
As the conflict escalates, Russia continues to emphasize that its warnings are aimed at preventing further destabilization and ensuring that rational decision-making prevails on both sides.
