Moscow says it’s ready to step things up in its war with Ukraine if the US and its allies don’t back off. That’s the warning from Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, in an interview with media on Wednesday. He didn’t mince words, saying tensions are higher now than even during the Cold War.
Ryabkov painted a grim picture, claiming that Western countries, especially the US, are underestimating Russia’s determination to protect what it sees as its core security interests. “The risks are high and growing,” he warned, adding that there’s no quick fix to this conflict.
The US isn’t backing down either. President Joe Biden’s administration just announced a $725 million military aid package for Ukraine. This money is part of a larger fund Congress approved earlier in the year, and the clock is ticking to spend the remaining $7 billion before Biden leaves office in a few weeks. The goal? To put Ukraine in the strongest position possible as it faces intensifying attacks from Russia.
Ryabkov wasn’t shy about blaming the US for escalating the situation, saying Washington’s actions show a lack of “common sense” and “restraint.” He hinted that if things don’t change, Russia might feel forced to take more drastic military action. “There will come a moment when we see no other choice but to resort to even stronger military means,” he said. While he doesn’t expect things to escalate immediately, he believes the signs are already there.
He also addressed the recent use of Russia’s “Oreshnik” ballistic missile in attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ryabkov described it as an intermediate-range missile, not a strategic one, and argued that its development was partly a response to the US withdrawing from a key arms control treaty in 2019. That decision, made by former President Donald Trump, allowed both countries to develop weapons they were previously banned from building.
As for peace talks, Ryabkov was blunt: there’s no chance of a compromise anytime soon. He said Ukraine’s leaders need to realize that Russia won’t bend to their demands. “The moment people in Kyiv understand there’s no way Russia will go the way they suggested, there might be opportunities,” he said, leaving the door slightly open for future discussions.
Ryabkov also dismissed claims that Russia has been in contact with Trump or his team about the former president’s idea of ending the war in a single day. “We’ll listen if they come with ideas, but not at the expense of our national interests,” he said.
The stakes are high, and both sides seem dug in, leaving the world to watch and wait as tensions continue to rise.
