Moscow Says Russia Doesn't Want Nuclear Escalation with the West, But Don't Test Its Patience

JAKARTA - Russia has no intention of taking the path of nuclear escalation in its standoff with the West over Ukraine, but other parties should not test its patience, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

His comments followed a series of warnings from senior Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, that Western military support for Ukraine raises the risk of a catastrophic nuclear conflict.

"We will do everything to prevent the development of events according to the worst-case scenario, but not at the expense of our vital interests," Zakharova told a regular press conference, reported by Reuters, April 28.

"I do not advise anyone to doubt our willpower and test it in practice," adds Zakharova.

Russia is known to have harshly criticized Western arms supplies to Ukraine and the expansion of the NATO military alliance (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) closer to its borders.

Finland, which shares a direct border with Russia, this month became NATO's 31st member. Meanwhile, Ukraine itself also wants to join, despite facing opposition from several countries.

"They (the United States) continue to deliberately violate our fundamental interests, deliberately pose risks, and increase the stakes in the confrontation with Russia," Zakharova said.

As previously reported, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of President Putin, said earlier this week the world was "very likely on the brink of a new world war".

"You have said that Russia will never use nuclear weapons first. However, this is not the case," Medvedev said, commenting on the statement of one of the participants, reported by TASS.

The former Russian President then quoted paragraph 19 of the Russian nuclear doctrine.

"It is stated explicitly that nuclear weapons can be used when aggression is carried out against Russia with the use of other types of weapons that endanger the existence of the state. Basically, the use of nuclear weapons is in response to such actions. Our potential adversaries must not underestimate this," he emphasized.

President Putin called the 14-month war in Ukraine - which he called a "special military operation" - an existential battle with an aggressive and arrogant West, saying Russia would use all available means to protect itself from any aggressor.

Meanwhile, the United States and its allies have condemned Russia's war in Ukraine as a land grab.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has vowed to fight back until all Russian troops withdraw from its territory, saying Russia's rhetoric about nuclear war is meant to intimidate the West into limiting military aid.