Russia Prepared for Extended Confrontation with the US, Senior Diplomat States – Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is preparing for a prolonged confrontation with the United States, having issued multiple warnings regarding the ongoing crisis in bilateral relations, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated on Tuesday.

The war in Ukraine, now in its two-and-a-half-year duration, has led to the most significant clash between Russia and the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, a period widely regarded as the closest the two superpowers came to nuclear conflict during the Cold War.

Russian officials indicate that the conflict is entering what they describe as its most perilous phase to date. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been actively seeking support from allies to allow Ukraine to deploy long-range Western missiles to strike deep into Russian territory, aiming to diminish Moscow’s capacity to conduct attacks.

Ryabkov, who is responsible for arms control and Washington relations, expressed that Moscow has no illusions about the current state of relations, particularly in the context of the "bipartisan anti-Russian consensus" prevailing in the United States.

"We must prepare for a long-term confrontation with this country. We are ready for this in every sense," he said, as reported by state news agency RIA.

Ryabkov emphasized the need to convey warning signals to their adversary to prevent any underestimation of Russia’s resolve.

Last week, President Vladimir Putin cautioned the West that Russia might resort to nuclear weapons if it were to be attacked with conventional missiles. He stated that any aggression against Russia, aided by a nuclear power, would be perceived as a combined assault.