World War III: You’re playing with fire – Russia sends strong message to US

Russia has warned the United States of America that permitting Ukraine to launch Western missile strikes into Russian territory could significantly escalate conflict.

President Vladimir Putin said there would be a worthy response from Russia to the attack.

The comments come as Ukraine is urging Western arms donors to greenlight the use of their weapons for long-range strikes deep inside Russia.

However, Russia in a statement cautioned the US and other Western nations that such actions could have severe and far-reaching consequences, potentially spreading the conflict beyond Europe’s borders.

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the West was seeking to escalate the Ukraine war and was “asking for trouble” by considering Ukrainian requests to loosen curbs on using foreign-supplied weapons, RT reports.

“The American mentality is that of a master, who sits on the other coast convinced of his safety and that others will do the dirty work for him. He expects others to die for him, not just Ukrainians, but also Europeans, it appears.

“We are now confirming once again that playing with fire – and they are like small children playing with matches – is a very dangerous thing for grown-up uncles and aunts who are entrusted with nuclear weapons in one or another Western country,” Lavrov said.

Russia stressed the need for restraint and diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation, urging all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution.