Russia cites risk of nuclear conflict, accuses NATO of proxy war in Ukraine

Ukraine and its allies played down Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remarks about nuclear war on Tuesday as the two-month-old conflict drags on.

Russia accused NATO of engaging in a proxy battle that created a serious risk of nuclear war as Washington convened its allies on Tuesday at a German air base to pledge the heavy weapons Ukraine needs to achieve victory.

With Russian forces having been forced back from Kyiv and now attempting a new advance in Ukraine’s east, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomed officials from more than 40 countries to Ramstein, headquarters of U.S. air power in Europe.

“As we see this morning, nations from around the world stand united in our resolve to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s imperial aggression,” Austin said. “Ukraine clearly believes that it can win, and so does everyone here.”

In a marked escalation of Russian rhetoric, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was asked on state TV about the prospect of World War Three and whether the current situation was comparable to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that nearly caused nuclear war.

“The risks now are considerable,” Lavrov said, according to the ministry’s transcript of the interview.

“The danger is serious, real. And we must not underestimate it,” Lavrov said. “NATO, in essence, is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy and is arming that proxy. War means war.”

U.S. officials have shifted emphasis this week from speaking mainly about helping Kyiv defend itself to talk of a Ukrainian victory that would deliver a blow to Russia’s ability to threaten neighbors in the future.

Austin, who visited Kyiv along with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday, said on Monday: “We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine.”