Russia is bracing for a prolonged standoff with US, Sergei Ryabkov says

Russia is bracing for a prolonged standoff with the United States and has issued multiple warnings to Washington regarding the deteriorating state of relations, as stated by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Tuesday.

The ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its second and a half year, has led to the most severe tensions between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, a period recognized as the closest the two superpowers came to a deliberate nuclear conflict.

Officials in Russia indicate that the conflict is now entering its most perilous phase. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been advocating for months for Kyiv’s allies to provide longer-range Western missiles, enabling Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory and thereby curtail Moscow’s capacity to conduct attacks.

Ryabkov, who is responsible for arms control and managing relations with the U.S., expressed that Moscow is fully aware of the realities of the relationship, particularly in light of the “bipartisan anti-Russian consensus” prevailing in the United States.

Ryabkov stated, as reported by the state news agency RIA, that it is essential to brace for a prolonged confrontation with this nation. “We are fully prepared for this in every aspect,” he emphasized. He also mentioned, “We are issuing all necessary warnings to our adversary to ensure they do not misjudge our resolve.”

Last week, President Vladimir Putin cautioned the West that Russia might resort to nuclear weapons if faced with conventional missile strikes, asserting that any attack on Russia backed by a nuclear power would be regarded as a collective assault.