Russia's invasion of Ukraine :Ukraine's sour response to Russia: Guess a defeat

 

Of: Emil Forsberg 

Published: Today 08.14 

Updated: Less than 40 minutes ago 

NEWS

Russia's foreign minister warns that a third world war could become a reality. 

A threat shot down by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

- It just means that Moscow is anticipating a defeat in Ukraine, he says. 

In an interview on Russian television on Monday night, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Ukraine was provoking a third world war 

- and that the threat of nuclear weapons "should not be underestimated". "There are no winners in a nuclear war, but the danger is real," he said. 

Ukraine's counterpart Dmytro Kuleba interprets the threat as meaning that the Russians have now realized that they are losing the war. 

"Russia is losing the last hope of scaring the world away from supporting Ukraine. That is why there is talk of a 'real' danger for the Third World War. This only means that Moscow anticipates defeat in Ukraine ", he writes on Twitter. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the threat of a third world war was real. 

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the threat of a third world war was real. Photo: AP 

"At war with NATO" 

In the television interview, Lavrov also accused NATO of "pouring oil on the fire" through its arms deliveries to Ukraine and made it clear that the weapons will now be legitimate targets. 

"Thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, portable air defense systems and terrorist weapons are brought into the country," Lavrov said.

- These weapons will be legitimate targets for Russia's military operations in the context of the special operation. In practice, NATO has started a war against Russia through a bulwark. 

"Russian logic" 

However, the Russian Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of continuing the peace talks, despite the fact that both countries have taken steps back. Something Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikiv describes as "Russian logic". 

- It is about wanting to stretch your hand as short as possible, so that others will be afraid and give in, he says. 

 - So from that aspect, it's not so strange. It's just weird for us who are used to negotiating in good faith. 

Dmytro Kuleba also advocates continued talks, although he believes that only direct negotiations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin can end the war. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, says Lavrov's statement is a sign that Russia is noticing that it is about to lose. Dmytro Kuleba, 

 

Ukraine's foreign minister, says Lavrov's statement is a sign that Russia is noticing that it is about to lose. Photo: Evelyn Hockstein / AP'