Russia’s Lavrov Says a Third World War Would Be Nuclear

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that if a third World War were to take place, it would involve nuclear weapons and be destructive, the Russian news agency RIA reported, according to Reuters.

Lavrov also said that Russia, which launched what it calls a special military operation against Ukraine last week, would face a “real danger” if Kyiv acquired nuclear weapons.

Russia's Lavrov says a third World War would be nuclear and destructive -RIA https://t.co/jiabNk7SmO pic.twitter.com/GzAYeZ5vC1

— Reuters (@Reuters) March 2, 2022

Lavrov warned Western nations not to build military facilities in the territory of former Soviet states that are not members of the Alliance.

“Ukraine still has Soviet technologies and the mean of deliverance of (nuclear) weapons. We cannot fail to respond to this real danger.

“Russia is a responsible member of the international community and is committed to its obligations for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. But Russia will undertake all necessary steps to prevent the appearance of nuclear weapons and related technologies in Ukraine,” Lavrov said.

His statements echo his speech at the Geneva disarmament meeting on Tuesday where he said that Moscow found it unacceptable that some European countries hosted US nuclear weapons and Russia was taking measures to prevent Ukraine from acquiring similar weapons.

Diplomats from a wide number of countries staged a walkout as Lavrov addressed the meeting. The diplomats stood up and left the room when Lavrov’s pre-recorded video message began to play, in protest against Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Powerful scenes at UN Human Rights Council this morning as delegations, including 🇬🇧 UK, marched out as Sergei Lavrov, Russian foreign minister, delivers his address.

We #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇳🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Rb50Tw5CRM

— Rita French 🇬🇧 (@RitaFrenchFCDO) March 1, 2022

Lavrov said that Kyiv has been seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, calling this a real danger that it needed to prevent.

“Ukraine still has Soviet technologies and the means of delivery of such weapons,” he said. “We cannot fail to respond to this real danger,” he said.

Russia puts nuclear forces on high alert

Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s nuclear forces to be on high alert on Sunday in response to what he called “aggressive statements” by leading NATO powers.

The Associated Press reports that the order means Putin has ordered Russia’s nuclear weapons prepared for increased readiness to launch, raising the threat that the tensions could boil over into a nuclear war.

In giving it, the Russian leader also cited hard-hitting financial sanctions imposed by the West against Russia, including Putin himself.

Speaking at a meeting with his top officials, Putin directed the Russian defense minister and the chief of the military’s General Staff to put the nuclear deterrent forces in a “special regime of combat duty.”

“Western countries aren’t only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic sphere, but top officials from leading NATO members made aggressive statements regarding our country,” Putin said in televised comments.