Russia "No Negotiations With U.S." Warns Of Risk Of 'Direct Crash' Of Nuclear Powers

[Anchor]
Russia, which has been sharply at odds with the West since the Ukraine war, has warned against taking lightly the possibility of a direct conflict between its nuclear powers.

In particular, he said he had no intention of responding to negotiations with the U.S. to deal with nuclear disarmament unless the U.S. changes its hostile attitude.

Reporter Lee Kyung-ah reports.

[Reporter]
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov called the current confrontation between the West and Russia "historically unprecedented."

This is compared to the so-called "Cuba Missile Crisis" between the United States and the former Soviet Union, which was close to the outbreak of the nuclear war in 1962.

Ryabkov went on to warn against taking lightly the possibility of a direct conflict between nuclear powers.

He dismissed the U.S. demand to come forward without preconditions for strategic stability talks to discuss nuclear disarmament and other issues.

[Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov] There is no point in talking to the United States on strategic issues, including nuclear arms control, unless the United States changes its extremely hostile stance to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.]

In the meantime, Mark Rutter, the new secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and NATO, visited Ukraine two days after taking office.

He expressed unwavering support for Ukraine's accession to NATO, saying it was a key goal.

[Marc Rutter / New Secretary-General of NATO] At the start of my term, I am here to make it clear to President Zelensky, to the people of Ukraine and to everyone watching that NATO will be with Ukraine.]

President Zelenskyy said the West is delaying the aid of long-range missiles and other weapons and urged the country to send them quickly.

It also expressed concerns that the international community's interest in Ukraine could decrease amid growing tensions in the Middle East.

[Volodymyr Zelensky / President of Ukraine: We don't want Ukraine to be forgotten. I think the best option not to forget Ukraine is to respond with weapons and give proper permission (for the use of long-range weapons).

Russia has vowed to take strong retaliation if Ukraine uses weapons it has received from the West to attack the mainland.

NATO Secretary-General Rutter responded to Ukraine's demand for Western weapons to be used to attack mainland Russia, saying "it is up to the allies to decide what restrictions to put on the weapons they have provided."

I'm YTN Lee Kyungah.