Frightening: Russia once again plays the atomic bomb tune

The Third World War will not be limited to Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned again on Tuesday, addressing the United States in a press conference in Moscow.

The Russian official claims that the West is playing with fire by allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with Western missiles, according to Reuters.

To recall, Ukraine attacked the Kursk region in western Russia on August 6 and now controls an area of about 1,200 square kilometers of Russian territory following the first foreign attack on Russia since World War II. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has promised that Russia will deliver an appropriate response to this attack.

Read Iulian Chifu: "Russia does not have the capacity to enter into a nuclear confrontation with the USA or NATO"

Sergey Lavrov, who has been Putin's Foreign Minister for over 20 years, stated that the West seeks to escalate the war in Ukraine and is "looking for trouble" if it considers Ukraine's requests to loosen restrictions on the use of weapons supplied from abroad: "We reiterate once again that playing with fire-and they are like small children playing with matches-is a very dangerous thing for adults who have been entrusted with nuclear weapons in one or another Western country."

Since the invasion of Ukraine, Putin and Russian officials have repeatedly warned of the risk of a much broader war involving the world's major nuclear powers, although the Russian leader has stated that his country does not desire a conflict with the NATO alliance, led by the U.S.

Read How many times have the Russians threatened with a nuclear attack?

• Volodymyr Zelensky: "The success of the peace plan depends on Biden; He will either give us what is in this plan or not"

The war with Russia will eventually end through dialogue, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, noting that Ukraine must have a strong position and will soon present a plan to U.S. President Joe Biden and his two potential successors.

Recently, the leader from Kyiv stated that the Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region three weeks ago is part of his plan, but that it also includes other economic and diplomatic measures: "The main point of this plan is to force Russia to end the war. And I really want this - in a way that is fair for Ukraine."

Volodymyr Zelensky intends to present his plan to U.S. President Joe Biden in September. "The success of this plan depends on him. He will either give us what is in this plan or not. We will either be free to use what is in this plan or not," said the Ukrainian leader. He mentioned, according to Reuters, that the operation in the Kursk region prevented the occupation of the Kharkiv region and thwarted Russia's intention to create so-called buffer zones in this and other border regions.

• Dmitry Peskov: "We will continue our special military operation and achieve all our objectives"

The Kremlin rejected yesterday the "peace plan" that Volodymyr Zelensky said he wanted to present to American leaders, promising to continue its "special military operation" in Ukraine until its objectives are achieved.

Russian officials stated yesterday that they do not intend to sit down for talks and will continue their territorial conquest offensive in Ukraine: "This is not the first time we have heard such statements from representatives of the Kyiv regime. We know very well the nature of this regime," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Reuters.

Read Iulian Fota: "A nuclear war is one without winners"

• MApN Does Not Comment on Lavrov's Statements; MFA Has Not Responded to Our Request on the Subject

Representatives of the Ministry of National Defense (MApN) refused to comment on the recent statements made by Sergey Lavrov, while those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) did not respond to our request on the subject before the edition's closure.

However, on other occasions, representatives of both institutions have firmly condemned the Russian Federation's armed aggression against Ukraine.

Recently, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu expressed his conviction that Romania is a safe country, stating that it "will not be attacked by Russia or anyone else." He argued that the statements made by Russian propaganda regarding the attack capabilities of the Russian Federation are part of the Kremlin's hybrid war.

In agreement, Nicolae Ciucă, President of the Romanian Senate and leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), affirmed that Romania is safe due to its NATO partners, and that Russian propaganda should be countered.

Read Aurel Cazacu: "Russia is not fighting Ukraine, but NATO and the USA"

President Klaus Iohannis also does not consider there to be any direct threat from Russia against Romania. Last year, the leader from Cotroceni stated that Romania is a safe country and that there were no signs of any danger of attacks or other undesirable events.

He made these statements in the context of Army Chief Gheorghiţă Vlad warning about the risk of escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and emphasizing that Romania must be prepared.