Moscow: Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, warned that Moscow may escalate its military response in the war with Ukraine if the US and its allies continue to push against Russia.
In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Fred Pleitgen on Wednesday, Ryabkov stated that “risks are high and growing” and that the current geopolitical tensions are unprecedented, even compared to the Cold War.
Ryabkov accused the West, particularly the US, of underestimating Russia’s resolve to defend its national security interests.
The US recently announced a $725 million security assistance package for Ukraine, aiming to strengthen Kyiv’s position against Russia’s ongoing attacks. However, Ryabkov cautioned that Moscow cannot be tested indefinitely and warned that the US may be underestimating Russia’s potential response.
“If we are pressured too much, we will have no choice but to use even stronger military means,” Ryabkov said. He added that although escalation is not immediate, the trend toward further confrontation is clear.
Ryabkov also discussed Russia’s ongoing nuclear missile threat, referencing the “Oreshnik” ballistic missile, which Moscow used in attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in November. He clarified that the Oreshnik missile is an intermediate-range weapon, not a strategic ballistic missile.