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Russia has issued a stark warning to the United States and its Western allies, accusing them of “playing with fire” by considering Ukraine’s request to lift restrictions on using foreign-supplied weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory.
This comes after Ukraine’s significant incursion into Russia’s Kursk region on August 6, the largest foreign attack on Russian soil since World War II.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cautioned that escalating the conflict could lead to dire global consequences, including the potential for World War III, which he warned would not be confined to Europe.
“Playing with fire… is a very dangerous thing for grown-up uncles and aunts who are entrusted with nuclear weapons,” Lavrov stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
The heightened rhetoric reflects Russia’s growing frustration and anxiety over its territorial losses to Ukrainian forces.
President Vladimir Putin has promised a “worthy response” to the attack, signaling that Moscow is preparing for a possible escalation.
Lavrov’s comments suggest that Russia is unwilling to back down and could potentially resort to more extreme measures, including revisiting its nuclear doctrine.
According to Russia’s 2020 nuclear doctrine, the president can authorize the use of nuclear weapons “when the very existence of the state is put under threat,” a scenario that Lavrov hinted might be closer than many assume.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has downplayed Kremlin threats of retaliation, dismissing them as bluffs.
He pointed out that Ukraine’s military actions are still constrained by the restrictions imposed by its Western allies, limiting its ability to strike some Russian military targets.
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Zelenskiy’s comments, however, do little to quell the tension, as Russia’s warnings have become increasingly severe.
The situation remains volatile, with Russia’s growing anger over lost territory and perceived Western provocations threatening to push the conflict into a far more dangerous phase.
