Russia Warns Against Nuclear War, Accuses West of Seeking Global Domination

Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, issued a stark warning against any attempt to engage in a military conflict with a nuclear power, delivering a speech at the UN General Assembly that condemned Western attempts to dominate the world, The Associated Press reports.

Three days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced changes in Russia’s nuclear doctrine, Lavrov accused the West of using Ukraine as a tool to target Moscow, claiming they were “preparing Europe to throw itself into this suicidal escapade.”

“I’m not going to talk here about the senselessness and the danger of the very idea of trying to fight to victory with a nuclear power, which is what Russia is,” he said.

Putin’s recent announcement, which lowered the threshold for potential use of Russia’s nuclear arsenal, was interpreted by many Western officials as a message to the United States and other Western states against the background of Ukraine seeking approval to strike Russia with longer-range weapons.

Lavrov hinted at a potential escalation.

“Whether or not they will provide the permission for Ukraine for long-range weapons, then we will see what their understanding was of what they heard,” he warned.

The Biden administration this week announced a $2.7 billion aid package for Ukraine, but it did not include the type of long-range weapons sought by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, nor a green light to use such weapons to strike deep into Russia.

Beyond the Ukraine conflict, Lavrov accused the West of hindering global governance, citing what he described as arrogant and aggressive actions towards Russia. He specifically criticized NATO’s expansion, saying the military alliance was “trying to take root in the South Caucasus, in central Asia, creating direct threats to the security of our country.”

Lavrov also raised concerns about NATO’s growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region, accusing the alliance of attempting to “contain or deter China and Russia.”