Russia has escalated concerns over the growing conflict between itself and Western powers, particularly the United States, Britain, and France, regarding their military support for Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized the risk of a direct clash between nuclear powers, highlighting the potentially catastrophic consequences.
The roots of this conflict trace back to President Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which has sparked the most significant strain in Russia-West relations since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
Lavrov pointed to recent actions, such as the approval of additional military aid to Ukraine by U.S. lawmakers, as exacerbating tensions.
Lavrov accused the United States and its NATO allies of being fixated on achieving a “strategic defeat” against Russia, suggesting that their support for Ukraine could lead to a direct military confrontation. He warned that this situation posed serious strategic risks and increased the likelihood of nuclear danger.
Since the onset of the conflict, Russia has consistently raised alarms about escalating nuclear risks, while the United States acknowledges these warnings but claims to have observed no changes in Russia’s nuclear posture. Putin frames the war as a historical struggle against the West’s encroachment on Russia’s sphere of influence since the end of the Cold War.
On the other side, Ukraine and its Western supporters view the conflict as an aggressive land grab by Russia, with Western leaders vowing to resist Russian forces in Ukraine. However, they have ruled out deploying NATO personnel in the region.
Amid deteriorating relations, both Russia and the United States express regret over the collapse of arms-control treaties designed to mitigate the risk of nuclear war. Lavrov declared that given the current crisis, there is no basis for dialogue with the United States on arms control.
Lavrov accused the West of attempting to constrain Russia’s and China’s nuclear arsenals while enhancing non-nuclear military capabilities to achieve unilateral superiority. He cited the development of a global missile defense system, basing nuclear weapons in Europe, and preparing to deploy weapons in space as examples of Western aggression.
Responding to these accusations, the United States asserts that its defense capabilities comply with international agreements and emphasizes its commitment to the peaceful use of outer space. Lavrov criticized Western propaganda aimed at discrediting Russia and diverting attention from real threats in outer space.
Despite the escalating tensions, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to developing a binding international instrument to prevent the deployment of weapons in outer space, emphasizing the need for reliable guarantees to maintain stability.
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