UK Defence Minister warns Russia of NATO's nuclear capability after Lavrov's statement

Hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hinted at starting a nuclear conflict, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace reacted vehemently and said that NATO allies could also use lethal weapons to defend mselves. While speaking on 61st day of war, Lavrov accused NATO of pouring oil on fire by supplying Ukraine with weapons. Russian diplomat also warned against provoking a third world war and said threat of a nuclear conflict "should t be underestimated", reported Sky News. "War means war", he affirmed while speaking about any possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons. 

Meanwhile, reacting to Lavrov's provocative statement, Wallace threatened Moscow with NATO nuclear capabilities. He told British Parliament that UK can use m to defend itself and NATO "if necessary". Irrespective of Lavrov's claim, Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy h earlier rejected possibility of using nuclear weapons. He h said Moscow would use m if existence of state came under threat.

Amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, President Vlimir Putin recently showcased his power to West by launching a new intercontinental ballistic missile, Sarmat, on Wednesday. During its launch, Putin said that latest missile launch is capable of firing up to 15 nuclear warhes in a single strike. According to him, launch of Sarmat is able to overpower all modern means of missile defence and would make West “think twice” before harbouring any aggressive intentions against Moscow. "re is t — and won’t be — anything comparable in world," he said.

Russia-Ukraine war

Russia initiated a full-fledged war against Ukraine nearly two days after Russian President Vlimir Putin signed a decree recognising independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin's action came despite West's repetitive warning. On February 24, Russian troops started a military operation against Ukraine. Since n, it has been bombarding several cities in Ukraine, resulting in killing of thousands of civilians. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to his Russian counterpart to end war immediately but ded that he would t let Russian forces take a single piece of Ukrainian land.