Russia Ambassador Exits US With Warning of 'Nuclear Catastrophe'

Newsweek ^ | 10/10/2024 | Staff

[Jan_Sobieski]

Russia’s top envoy to the United States has ended his term, leaving behind an ominous forecast about the risk of deteriorating bilateral ties escalating into a nuclear-armed clash over the ongoing war in Ukraine in an exclusive interview with Newsweek.

The Kremlin announced on Thursday that Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov had been officially relieved of his duty after seven years of service. In the lead-up to his departure, Antonov spoke with Newsweek about the troubled state of relations between Moscow and Washington, which show no signs of improving as the war in Ukraine continues and NATO doubles down on military support for Kyiv amid recent advances by the Russian military.

'"Project Ukraine' is dragging American politicians only further into an abyss, from which it is increasingly difficult to get out," Antonov told Newsweek. "As we see, the administration can only respond to the victories of Russian troops in Donbas and the failure of the provocation by the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk region by using the same hackneyed theses about 'support as long as we can.'"

"There are zero signals to clients about the need to think over their position and sit down at the negotiating table," he added. "Neither are there any hints about stopping the senseless flow of weapons at the expense of the local taxpayer."

Instead, he argued that "Washington is continuing a dangerous discussion about the possibility of giving Ukrainians a permission to strike deep into Russian territory with Western long-range missiles."

Such talk threatened to defy the latest ultimatum issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly warned against external intervention since first ordering a "special military operation" into Ukraine in February 2022…

[Petrosius]

You do not understand English idioms? “Sorry” here is a polite way to say that you are wrong. The long range missiles are the response to Russia’s attacks. The bear has been doing is own poking. Russia, and its supporters, should not think that it can attack others and not reap a response. All of this would stop if Putin would just take his forces and go home.

[frog in a pot]

You do not understand English idioms?

You assume too much.

In addition, your argument avoids the issue I suggested - the danger of exponentially escalating what is merely a border dispute, albeit a deadly one, by striking at the nerve center of a holder of nuclear weapons.

You have disqualified yourself with those two points; we are done.

[Petrosius]

First, this is not merely a border dispute. It is Russia’s attempt to subjugate Ukraine, bringing it back under Russian dominance. Second, nothing that the west has done is an existential threat to Russia. Therefore its threats of the use of nuclear weapons is not to be taken seriously. It is such use that would create an existential threat to Russia. The cost to Russia for the use of nuclear weapons would be too high and they will not use them. Russia’s warnings are all bluster and a sign of their frustration at not being able to achieve its goals.

More importantly, your position is that because Russia has nuclear weapons they should not be opposed in their conquests of other countries. Such a position is dangerous and would create great risks for the world, including the U.S.