At The UN Russia Warns the West Against Provoking a Nuclear Power Amid Ukraine Conflict

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In a stern message to the global community, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Western nations not to attempt to achieve victory against a nuclear-armed Russia, signaling heightened tensions amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

 

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, Lavrov condemned what he described as Western interference in Ukraine and the broader global conflict. His remarks came just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at adjustments to Russia’s nuclear posture.

 

Lavrov was unable to get to Switzerland due to the EU ban on his plane.  As soon as he started speaking on video, ambassadors and other diplomats left the hall as a sign of support for Ukraine. Watch:

Rxssian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was unable to get to Switzerland due to the EU ban on his plane. As soon as he started speaking on video, ambassadors and other diplomats left the hall as a sign of support for #Ukraine.

Source: Times of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/buzbpyQucv

— Тетяна Denford 🇺🇦🔱 (@TetyanaUkrainka) March 2, 2023

 

Lavrov accused the West of using Ukraine as a means to undermine Russia strategically, saying, “The West is using Ukraine to defeat Russia, and preparing Europe to throw itself into this suicidal escapade.” He stressed the futility and danger of trying to engage in direct conflict with a nuclear power, adding, “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.”

 

The specter of nuclear threats has loomed over the Ukraine conflict since its inception in February 2022. Shortly before Russia’s invasion, President Putin emphasized his country’s nuclear strength, declaring that Russia was “one of the most powerful nuclear states” and placing its nuclear forces on high alert soon after. Since then, the nuclear rhetoric from Moscow has fluctuated, raising concerns in the international community.

 

Just three days before Lavrov’s speech, Putin issued a new warning, stating that Russia would consider any attack by a nation supported by a nuclear-armed country as a joint assault. While Putin did not explicitly mention a nuclear response, he hinted that Russia could resort to nuclear weapons if a conventional attack posed a “critical threat to our sovereignty.”

 

The United States and European Union quickly criticized Putin’s statements as “irresponsible.” Many viewed Putin’s remarks as a message to the West, particularly the U.S., which has provided substantial military aid to Ukraine. The Biden administration recently announced an additional $2.7 billion in military support for Ukraine, though it stopped short of authorizing long-range weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territory, something Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has long sought.

 

During Lavrov’s UN address, no official response came from the U.S., which had a junior diplomat present during his speech. However, Lavrov’s comments did underscore the continued escalation in rhetoric and military action. Despite Western aid, Russia has made slow but steady gains in eastern Ukraine. At the same time, Ukraine has launched missile and drone strikes on Russian territory, even managing to briefly send troops across the border in a bold incursion last month.

 

Zelenskyy has consistently called for peace, advocating for what he describes as a peace formula that would expel Russian forces from Ukraine, hold war criminals accountable, and secure the release of prisoners of war. Lavrov, however, dismissed Zelenskyy’s peace proposal as a “doomed ultimatum,” casting doubt on the prospects for a diplomatic resolution in the near future.

 

While Western nations continue to back Ukraine, other countries like Brazil and China have begun promoting a peace plan that seeks to bring both sides to the negotiating table without further escalation. This proposal has garnered the support of a dozen countries, primarily in Africa and Latin America, which have joined a coalition of “friends for peace” in Ukraine.

 

Lavrov acknowledged this initiative, stating at a press conference on Saturday that Russia would be open to providing advice and assistance to the group, though he emphasized that any solution must be based on “realities” rather than “abstract conversations.”

 

At the core of Russia’s stance is the belief that the conflict stems from deeper issues, including what Moscow claims is the repression of Russian-speaking populations in eastern Ukraine and NATO’s expansion into Eastern Europe, which Russia views as a threat to its security. Lavrov reiterated that addressing these "root causes" is crucial to resolving the conflict.

 

As the war grinds on into its third year, the danger of further escalation, including the use of nuclear weapons, remains a significant concern for the international community. With diplomatic efforts still struggling to gain traction, the world watches closely as the conflict shows little sign of abating.

 

Based on a report from: The Guardian 2024-09-30