Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Russia's FM Lavrov Accuses West Of Considering 'Nuclear War'

Russia, which launched a special military operation against Ukraine last week, would face a "real danger" if Kyiv acquired a nuclear weapon, said foreign minister Lavrov.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (File photo: getty)

New Delhi: As Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered the 8th day on Thursday, with fighting going on in multiple fronts across the country, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West of considering "nuclear war", according to the news agency AFP.

"I would like to point out that it's in the heads of Western politicians that the idea of a nuclear war is spinning constantly, and not in the heads of Russians," Lavrov said in an interview with Russian and foreign media.

"I assure you that we will not allow any provocations to throw us off balance," he added.

On Thursday, Sergei warned that World War III would be fought with nuclear weapons and would result in great destruction. This is why Moscow's response to Ukraine's plan to acquire nuclear weapons is so urgent. Lavrov claimed that Russia would not allow Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons.

Russia, which launched a special military operation against Ukraine last week, would face a "real danger" if Kyiv acquired a nuclear weapon, said foreign minister Lavrov.

For the last 18 years, Lavrov has been Russia's top diplomat and he is considered to be one of the close aides of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Meanwhile, Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said Ukrainians and Russians are "one people" but that Ukrainians are "threatened and brainwashed", as quoted by the news agency AFP.

"I want to say that the special military operation is going strictly according to schedule, according to plan," he said, opening a meeting with his security council.

"We are at war with neo-Nazis," Putin said, adding: "I will never give up on my conviction that Russians and Ukrainians are one people." 

He hailed the Russian army saying, " Russian army is fighting courageously, like real heroes"

He likewise ordered compensation to be paid to the families of Russian troopers killed in Ukraine.

"Our duty is to support the families of those who fought for the people of Russia," Putin said.