Lavrov acknowledged the threat of nuclear war

Lavrov also acknowledged the risk of the battle rising to nuclear weapons, but he sounded optimistic about the prospects for a peace treaty.

On Monday, Putin told Russia’s First Channel that Moscow wished to avoid “artificially” raising the risks of such a clash.

“This is our key position on which we base everything. The risks now are considerable,” Lavrov said.

“I would not want to elevate those risks artificially. Many would like that. The danger is serious, real, and we must not underestimate it.”

Lavrov also accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine of “pretending” to negotiate, calling him “a good actor”.

“If you watch attentively and read attentively what he says, you’ll find a thousand contradictions,” Lavrov said.

Last week, Russia’s foreign minister stated that Moscow is dedicated to avoiding nuclear conflict.

On Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that Lavrov’s latest remarks showed Russia had lost its “last hope to scare the world off supporting Ukraine”.

“Thus the talk of a ‘real’ danger of WWIII. This only means Moscow senses defeat in Ukraine,” he tweeted.

Days after the invasion began back on 24 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his nuclear forces to be on alert.

The US and its Nato allies have said they do not want direct military intervention in Ukraine, in order to avoid the risks of a Third World War.

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