Russia's Putin Warns Of Direct Clash With West After Ukraine Receives Military Aid

The world has been pushed to the brink of a potential direct clash between major nuclear powers by U.S., British, and French military support for Ukraine, as stated by Russia on Monday.

The worst breakdown in relations between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis has been triggered by President Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, according to Russian and U.S. diplomats.

Billions of dollars in additional military aid to Ukraine, approved by U.S. lawmakers just two days ago, has led Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to assert that the United States and NATO are obsessed with the idea of inflicting "strategic defeat" on Russia. Lavrov highlighted serious strategic risks and raised concerns about a potential direct military clash between nuclear powers, as reported by Hindustan Times citing Reuters.

The escalation of nuclear risks has been repeatedly warned about by Russia since the war began, although U.S. officials claim they have seen no change in Russian nuclear posture. The disintegration of arms-control treaties, which aimed to slow the Cold War arms race and reduce nuclear war risks, has been regretted by Russia and the United States amid deteriorating relations.

Russia and the United States, possessing over 10,600 of the world's 12,100 nuclear warheads combined, have expressed concerns about the current crisis undermining dialogue on arms control. In the context of an all-out hybrid war, Lavrov has stated there is no basis for dialogue with the United States on arms control and strategic stability, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Accusations have been made by Lavrov against the West for trying to impose restrictions on Russian and Chinese nuclear arsenals while pursuing unilateral military superiority through non-nuclear capabilities. The West's alleged development of a global missile defence system, nuclear weapons deployment in Europe, and preparations for space weaponization have been criticized by Lavrov.

Lavrov emphasized the need for international legally binding instruments to prevent the deployment of weapons in outer space, citing the diversion of international attention from real threats as a primary concern.