Russia issued a warning to the United States on Wednesday, urging it to cease what it termed a “spiral of escalation” regarding Ukraine. However, the country indicated it would continue to notify Washington about missile test launches to prevent “dangerous mistakes.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov’s remarks highlighted Moscow’s desire to maintain open lines of communication amid heightened tensions with the U.S., particularly following the recent approval of a new policy that lowers the threshold for nuclear weapon use.

Ryabkov’s comments came shortly after Russia conducted a test of the Oreshnik, a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, aimed at Ukraine. He asserted that this action conveyed a clear message to Western nations.

“The message is unmistakable: stop this behavior immediately. You must not provide Kyiv with everything it requests, nor should you encourage them to pursue further military actions, as they pose significant risks,” Ryabkov was quoted as saying by state media.

He further emphasized that the current U.S. administration needs to halt this escalation, warning that failure to do so could lead to a perilous situation for all parties involved, including the United States.

President Vladimir Putin stated last week that the launch of the Oreshnik was a response to Ukraine’s initial deployment of U.S. ATACMS ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadow cruise missiles against Russian territory, actions taken with Western approval.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy characterized Russia’s deployment of the new missile, which Kyiv claimed could reach speeds of 13,600 kph (8,450 mph), as “a clear and severe escalation” of the conflict, calling for strong international condemnation.

The U.S. military described the missile as experimental, suggesting that Russia likely has only a limited number of them.

The Kremlin noted that Russia was not technically required to notify the United States about the Oreshnik launch, as it was classified as an intermediate-range missile rather than an intercontinental one. Nevertheless, Moscow chose to inform the U.S. 30 minutes prior to the launch.

Ryabkov emphasized the importance of a stabilizing factor in the precarious situation we currently face, stating, “We are dedicated to this practice and hope the United States will share this commitment.” He added that such measures could mitigate the risks of miscalculations or dangerous errors.

In a related update on Wednesday, the Russian state news agency TASS reported that an official confirmed Moscow’s ongoing efforts to operationalize its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which is a key component of its strategic nuclear capabilities.

The Sarmat missile is engineered to deliver nuclear warheads to targets located thousands of miles away, including the United States and Europe. However, its development has encountered numerous delays and testing challenges. In September, arms experts indicated that Russia may have experienced a significant failure during the missile’s most recent test, resulting in a substantial crater at the launch site.