Risks of Direct Russia-NATO Clash Are Increasing, Russian Diplomat Warns
Escalating Tensions Between Russia and NATO
MOSCOW, May 19 (Reuters) - A senior Russian diplomat warned on Tuesday that the risks of a direct clash between Russia and the NATO military alliance are increasing, and that the consequences could be catastrophic.
Russian Diplomat's Warning
In an interview with the TASS state news agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said there was a growing narrative in European capitals about the "looming threat of a high-intensity war" with Russia.
Potential Consequences of Escalation
"As a result of this escalation of tensions, including blatantly provocative actions in the nuclear sphere, strategic risks are mounting, as is the danger of a head-on clash between NATO and our country, with all the potentially catastrophic consequences that would entail," Ryabkov told TASS.
Media Coverage and Reporting
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
