Russia’s Lavrov Warns Against Clash with Nuclear Power at UN

Russia’s Lavrov Warns Against Clash with Nuclear Power at UN \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered a stern warning against trying to “fight to victory with a nuclear power” during his address at the United Nations General Assembly. Lavrov criticized the West for using Ukraine to try to defeat Russia and condemned NATO’s expansion. He also elaborated on Russia’s shifting nuclear doctrine amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Russia’s Nuclear Warning Quick Looks

• Lavrov’s UN Speech: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned against fighting Russia, a nuclear power, in his speech to the UN General Assembly.
• Condemnation of Western Strategy: Lavrov accused Western nations of using Ukraine as a pawn to defeat Russia strategically.
• Criticism of NATO Expansion: Lavrov criticized NATO’s expansion into Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific, viewing it as a threat to Russia’s security.
• Nuclear Doctrine Shift: Lavrov reiterated Putin’s recent statements on lowering the threshold for nuclear response.
• Peace Proposals and Reactions: China and Brazil promoted a peace plan involving Ukraine and Russia, gaining international interest.

Deep Look

Russia’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, warned on Saturday of the dangers of trying to “fight to victory with a nuclear power” during a speech delivered at the United Nations General Assembly. Lavrov’s address was marked by pointed criticism of what he described as Western attempts at achieving global domination, both in Ukraine and through broader international machinations, including those within the United Nations itself.

This speech came just three days after Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at a significant shift in Russia’s nuclear doctrine. Lavrov accused the West of exploiting Ukraine—invaded by Russia in February 2022—as a tool to strategically defeat Moscow, warning that Europe was being drawn into a potentially “suicidal” conflict. “I’m not going to talk here about the senselessness and the danger of the very idea of trying to fight to victory with a nuclear power, which is what Russia is,” Lavrov said in his address, underscoring the gravity of a direct confrontation with a nuclear-armed nation.

Putin’s recent statement, which appeared to lower the threshold for the potential use of Russia’s nuclear arsenal, was widely seen as a message aimed directly at the United States and other Western powers amid growing discussions in Ukraine about using longer-range weapons against Russian forces. Lavrov echoed these sentiments during a news conference following his speech. “Whether or not they will provide the permission for Ukraine for long-range weapons, then we will see what their understanding was of what they heard,” Lavrov stated.

The Biden administration recently announced a new $2.7 billion military aid package for Ukraine. However, it notably did not include the long-range weapons that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been requesting, nor did it offer the green light for striking deeper into Russian territory.

Lavrov used the press opportunity to express his displeasure with what he characterized as the “arrogance and aggressiveness of Western politicians.” He suggested that this posture was eroding global governance mechanisms, including the UN Security Council, and affecting international agreements like the newly adopted “Pact for the Future,” which Russia had unsuccessfully tried to weaken.

Lavrov also took aim at NATO, criticizing its geopolitical and military expansion. He said that NATO was now attempting to “take root in the south Caucasus and in Central Asia,” which he framed as a direct threat to Russian security. NATO has established partnerships with countries in the south Caucasus—namely Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan—as well as with all Central Asian nations except Afghanistan. However, none of these countries are NATO members, a distinction Lavrov sought to stress. Lavrov also suggested that NATO was expanding its influence in the Asia-Pacific region to deter both China and Russia, citing increasing cooperation with partners like New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, and Japan.

Lavrov accused the United States of seeking to “preserve their hegemony and to govern everything.” He highlighted the Quad—a partnership involving the U.S., India, Australia, and Japan—as part of the U.S.’s broader effort to exert influence, particularly in Asia, to contain China and Russia.

On the topic of nuclear weapons, Lavrov addressed Russia’s stance following its suspension of the New START nuclear treaty with the United States in February 2023. Despite suspending the treaty, Russia has continued to adhere to the limits outlined in it, including the cap of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers. Lavrov confirmed that Russia will comply with these limits until the treaty expires in 2026. The specter of nuclear threats has loomed over the war in Ukraine since its inception. Shortly before the invasion, Putin reminded the world of Russia’s status as one of the most powerful nuclear states, putting its nuclear forces on high alert just days after launching the invasion. Since then, Putin’s rhetoric on nuclear weapons has fluctuated between aggressive threats and moderated positions.

On Wednesday, Putin indicated that any attack on Russia by a country supported by a nuclear-armed nation would be considered a joint attack, although he stopped short of specifying whether this would necessarily provoke a nuclear response. He did emphasize, however, that Russia reserved the right to use nuclear weapons in response to any conventional assault that posed a “critical threat to our sovereignty.” The United States and the European Union were quick to condemn these comments, calling them “irresponsible.” There was no immediate official response to Lavrov’s speech from the U.S., with only a junior diplomat noted as present and taking notes during the assembly.

The war between Russia and Ukraine, now over two and a half years old, continues with slow but steady Russian advances in Ukraine’s eastern regions. Ukraine, meanwhile, has managed to strike back, targeting Russian territory with missile and drone attacks, and even embarrassing Moscow with a surprise incursion that made considerable gains in a border region.

President Zelenskyy has been promoting his “peace formula” as a means to bring the conflict to an end. His plan includes the complete expulsion of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory, ensuring accountability for war crimes, the release of prisoners of war and deportees, among other measures.

In parallel, diplomatic efforts have emerged from countries like Brazil and China, both of which are advocating for a negotiated peace process. The proposal includes convening a peace conference involving both Ukraine and Russia, while calling for the cessation of battlefield expansions or any moves that could escalate the conflict further. Diplomats from Brazil and China have been working on gathering support for this initiative, managing to attract a coalition of a dozen countries, primarily from Africa and Latin America, who have banded together under the banner of “friends for peace” in Ukraine.

At his news conference, Lavrov stated that Russia was ready to assist and provide advice to the peace-seeking group, but he underscored that “it’s important for their proposals to be underpinned by the realities and not just be taken from some abstract conversations.” Lavrov’s statement suggests that Russia remains open to discussions, albeit on its own terms, reflecting a broader trend of guarded but consistent diplomatic engagement amidst a highly contentious and dangerous international environment.

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