Russian foreign minister warns of nuclear escalation risks in Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed concerns about the potential for nuclear escalation in Ukraine, while reaffirming Russia’s openness to dialogue. In an interview with American reporter Tucker Carlson, Lavrov discussed Russia-US relations, the ongoing Ukraine crisis, and the broader geopolitical context.

Lavrov highlighted worrying rhetoric from some Pentagon and NATO officials regarding the possibility of limited nuclear strikes on Russia, which they claim would avoid involving US territories. He warned that such actions could quickly spiral into uncontrollable escalation.

The Russian Foreign Minister referred to Russia’s military doctrine, which stresses the importance of avoiding nuclear war, and reiterated Russia’s opposition to NATO’s eastward expansion, blaming the West for disregarding Russia’s security concerns. He called on US policymakers to move away from a “rules-based order” that favors US dominance and instead embrace multilateralism. Lavrov also emphasized that Russia remains open to dialogue, provided it is based on equal terms.