By Russia Cautions the West Over Potential Escalation
Moscow: Russia has issued a strong warning to Western nations, asserting that the consideration of allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory with Western missiles is a perilous move. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that such actions are “playing with fire” and warned that a potential World War III would not be confined to Europe.
This warning follows Ukraine’s attack on Russia’s western Kursk region on August 6, which is considered the most significant foreign assault on Russia since World War II. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that there would be a “worthy response” from Russia.
Lavrov Accuses the West of Escalating the Conflict
Lavrov, who has served as Putin’s foreign minister for over two decades, accused Western nations of intentionally escalating the conflict in Ukraine. He cautioned that considering Ukrainian requests to ease restrictions on using foreign-supplied weapons is a reckless move that could have dire consequences.
Since the onset of the Ukraine war in 2022, Putin has repeatedly warned of the risks of a broader war involving the world’s largest nuclear powers. Despite this, he has consistently stated that Russia does not desire a conflict with NATO, led by the United States.
“Playing with fire—like children playing with matches—is extremely dangerous for those entrusted with nuclear weapons,” Lavrov stated during a press conference in Moscow. He also mentioned that Russia is “clarifying” its nuclear doctrine in light of recent developments.
Russia’s Nuclear Doctrine and Response to the Kursk Attack
Russia’s 2020 nuclear doctrine outlines the circumstances under which the president might consider using nuclear weapons. This includes a response to attacks with nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, or conventional weapons, that threaten the very existence of the Russian state.
Following the recent attack on Kursk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed Russia’s threats of retaliation as mere bluffs. He pointed out that Ukraine is currently restricted by its allies from using some of the weapons at its disposal to target Russian military sites and urged these allies to be more decisive in their support.
Russia has accused Ukraine of using Western-supplied weaponry, including British tanks and U.S. rocket systems, in the Kursk attack. Kyiv confirmed that it used U.S.-supplied HIMARS missiles to destroy bridges in the region.
U.S. Denies Involvement, Russia Expresses Doubts
The United States has denied any involvement in the operation, asserting that it was not informed of Ukraine’s plans beforehand. However, Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin expressed skepticism about these claims, saying that Moscow does not believe Western assertions of non-involvement. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also stated that U.S. involvement in the Kursk attack is “an obvious fact.”
