Moscow cites risk of nuclear war as U.S., allies pledge more arms for Ukraine

The U.S. State Department on Monday approved the potential sale of $165 million worth of ammunition to Ukraine

Russia accused NATO of engaging in a proxy battle that created a serious risk of nuclear war, as Washington convened its allies on Tuesday at a German air base to pledge the heavy weapons Ukraine needs to achieve victory, Qazet.az reports.

With Russian forces having been forced back from Kyiv and now attempting a new advance in Ukraine's east, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomed officials from more than 40 countries to Ramstein, headquarters of U.S. air power in Europe.

"Nations from around the world stand united in our resolve to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia's imperial aggression," Austin said. "Ukraine clearly believes that it can win, and so does everyone here."

In a marked escalation of Russian rhetoric, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was asked on state TV about the prospect of World War Three and whether the current situation was comparable to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that nearly caused nuclear war.

"The risks now are considerable," Lavrov said, according to the ministry's transcript of the interview.

"The danger is serious, real. And we must not underestimate it," Lavrov said. "NATO, in essence, is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy and is arming that proxy. War means war."

U.S. officials have shifted emphasis this week from speaking mainly about helping Kyiv defend itself to talk of a Ukrainian victory that would deliver a blow to Russia's ability to threaten neighbours in the future.

Austin, who visited Kyiv along with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday, said on Monday: "We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can't do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine."

Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, flying to Tuesday's meeting, told reporters the next several weeks in Ukraine would be "very, very critical".

"They need continued support in order to be successful on the battlefield. And that's really the purpose of this conference."

The aim would be to coordinate aid that includes heavy weapons such as howitzer artillery, as well as killer drones and ammunition, General Milley said.

Kyiv and its allies played down Lavrov's remarks about nuclear war. Russia had lost its "last hope to scare the world off supporting Ukraine," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted after Lavrov's interview. "This only means Moscow senses defeat."

British Armed Services Minister James Heappey called Lavrov's remarks an example of his "bravado" and he did not think there was an imminent threat of escalation.