KNews.id- Russia has again warned of the potential for nuclear war if the United States and NATO continue to ‘intervene’ in the conflict in Ukraine. The former president and one of Vladimir Putin’s closest friends, Dmitry Medvedev, warned the West that the increased military support provided to Ukraine by the United States and its allies risks sparking conflict between Russia and the NATO military alliance.
Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said such conflicts with NATO always carry the risk of a full-blown nuclear war.
“NATO countries supplying weapons to Ukraine, training their troops to use Western equipment, sending mercenaries, and training alliance countries near our borders increase the possibility of direct and open conflict between NATO and Russia,” Medvedev said in a Telegram post, quoted by Reuters, Friday (13/5).
“Such a conflict always carries the risk of turning into a full-fledged nuclear war,” Medvedev said. “This would be a disastrous scenario for everyone.
”According to the Washington-based Arms Control Association, Russia and the United States are by far the world’s largest nuclear powers. Russia has about 6,257 nuclear warheads, while the three NATO nuclear powers – the United States, Britain and France – have about 6,065 warheads combined.
Meanwhile, Russia’s attack on Ukraine that began on February 24 has killed thousands, devastated its former Soviet neighbor and raised fears of the worst confrontation between Russia and the United States since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.
Putin said the so-called “special military operations” attack on Ukraine was necessary because the United States was using Ukraine to threaten Russia and Moscow had to defend against the persecution of Russian-speaking people. (AHM)
