In an interview with state television, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted that Russia has been endeavoring to avoid a nuclear conflict since its February 24 invasion of Ukraine. Still, he said, communication with the United States has “practically ceased” and that the Ukrainian side is not negotiating for peace in good faith.
“The risks now are considerable,” Lavrov said on the prospect of the war in Ukraine escalating to a nuclear level. “I would not want to elevate those risks artificially. Many would like that. The danger is serious, real. And we must not underestimate it.”
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In the interview, Lavrov also praised as "good and wise" the Biden administration's first foreign policy move, which was to agree with Russia that the New Start treaty should be unconditionally extended for five years.
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Lavrov also said weapons supplied by Western countries “will be a legitimate target,” adding that Russian forces had already targeted weapons warehouses in western Ukraine.
“Everyone is reciting incantations that in no case can we allow World War III,” Lavrov said in a wide-ranging interview on Russian television. He accused Ukrainian leaders of provoking Russia by asking NATO to become involved in the conflict.
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By providing weapons, NATO forces are “pouring oil on the fire,” he said
The foreign minister said that Russian military forces would target shipments of weapons to Ukraine provided by the West, accusing NATO of being at war with Russia.
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“These weapons will be a legitimate target for Russia’s military acting within the context of the special operation,” Lavrov exclaimed. “Storage facilities in western Ukraine have been targeted more than once. How can it be otherwise?” the foreign minister added. “NATO, in essence, is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy and is arming that proxy. War means war.” According to Lavrov, communication with the U.S. has been virtually nonexistent during the conflict.
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“The United States has practically ceased all contacts simply because we were obliged to defend Russians in Ukraine,” Lavrov said, citing the Kremlin’s case for the invasion of Ukraine. He accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of prolonging the war by “pretending” to negotiate for peace, describing the former actor, in fact, as a “good actor.”
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“If you watch attentively and read attentively what he says, you’ll find a thousand contradictions,” Lavrov said. Days after the invasion commenced, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his nuclear forces to be on alert. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is reportedly receiving several briefings per week about the possibility of Russia using its nuclear arsenal. Nevertheless, Pentagon officials are skeptical that Russia will follow through with its threats to use nuclear weapons.
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“We took note of what Mr. Putin said in the early days of this invasion,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. “I think it’s also important to add that there hasn’t been more of that rhetoric following that initial salvo in the early days.”
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