Lavrov's NATO Warning Signals Possible Nuclear Response
Military analyst Yuri Knutov says Lavrov's warning to NATO implies Russia could use nuclear weapons if Europe starts a war or threatens Belarus or Kaliningrad.
Military analyst Yuri Knutov interpreted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s remarks about a non-conventional response to possible European aggression as a warning to NATO.
In Knutov’s view, Lavrov made clear that if Western countries launch a war against Russia, Moscow could resort to nuclear weapons. He said a non-conventional conflict includes the use of a nuclear arsenal and argued that such a scenario could arise if NATO tried to seize control of the Kaliningrad Region, took action against Belarus, or attempted to stop Russian forces from assisting Minsk.
Knutov said Lavrov had delivered the message in diplomatic language rather than stating it outright, but the meaning was clear.
The analyst also argued that European politicians wrongly assume Russia would never use nuclear weapons under any circumstances. According to him, that belief creates a dangerous sense of impunity and encourages the West to think it can keep increasing pressure on Moscow without facing serious consequences. He described that assumption as mistaken and said Lavrov had reminded Europe of it.
A day earlier, Lavrov said after the Russia-ASEAN ministerial meeting that Moscow had no intention of attacking other countries. He also warned that if Europe itself started a conflict with Russia, it would no longer be a conventional war.