Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a warning on Monday regarding the increasing risk of a potential direct military confrontation between Russia and Western nuclear powers.
Lavrov expressed concern over the precarious situation during a video message to participants of the Moscow Nonproliferation Conference. He cautioned against the dangerous escalation that could lead to catastrophic consequences.
Strong reaction
These remarks followed Russia’s strong reaction to the U.S. House of Representatives’ passing of a $61 billion foreign aid package for Kyiv over the weekend.
Despite longstanding objections from some hardline Republicans, House lawmakers approved the aid on Saturday. The legislation now moves to the Democratic-majority Senate, which is expected to pass it later this week before sending it to President Joe Biden for approval.
The aid package is crucial for Ukraine, which has faced shortages of supplies in its eastern regions, forcing its forces to ration shell usage. Russian forces have been advancing in the Donbas region, prompting Ukraine to request more air defense systems, artillery, and ammunition to counter the aggression.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to U.S. lawmakers for their support, stating that the aid bill passed by the House would help prevent the escalation of the conflict, save lives, and strengthen both nations. He urged the Senate to swiftly approve the bill.
In a separate incident, a Russian air attack targeted TV broadcast infrastructure in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, causing disruptions to the signal, as reported by local officials.
Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor, confirmed interruptions in the digital TV signal but noted that there were no casualties resulting from the attack.
