- The Kremlin has stressed the importance of “in-depth dialogue” as a way to ease growing tensions between Russia and the West.
- The West would not be willing to engage in such a dialogue, which the Kremlin considers problematic given the potential risks involved.
- Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated significantly due to Russia's involvement in the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that “in-depth dialogue” was the way to reduce growing tensions between Russia and the West, including in the nuclear field, but that the “collective West” refused to engage despite demands potential dangers.
Russia's war in Ukraine has seen East-West relations reach their most dangerous moment since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and Russia's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday its forces had begun the first stage of exercises ordered by the president Vladimir Putin to simulate preparation for the launch of tactical nuclear weapons.
Nuclear analysts say the exercises by Russia, the world's largest nuclear power, are intended as a wake-up call from Putin to dissuade the West from engaging more deeply in the war in Ukraine. Western countries have provided arms and intelligence to kyiv but refrained from sending troops.
RUSSIAN KREMLIN DEnies US CLAIMS THAT MOSCOW PUT ANTI-SATELLITE WEAPON IN SPACE
Responding to a question on Wednesday about the risk of a nuclear conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said escalating tensions in Europe and active conflicts in various regions of the world were undermining stability and predictability.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a joint news conference by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow, Russia, February 18, 2022. The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a “deep dialogue was the way to reduce the growing tensions. between Russia and the West, including in the nuclear field, but that the “collective West” refused to get involved despite the potential dangers. (Sputnik/Sergey Guneev/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo)
“A further escalation of these tensions is potentially dangerous, including in the nuclear field,” Peskov told a news conference.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“The situation requires in-depth dialogue in order to use political and diplomatic methods to find ways out of this tense situation. But in-depth dialogue between the main players is rejected by the countries of the so-called collective West,” a- he declared. .