A prominent Russian foreign policy strategist has warned Moscow will 'go nuclear' and leave 'little left' of some European countries if they continue backing Ukraine.
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they → warn → Ukraine
Sergei Karaganov said Russia would initially use conventional weapons, but would resort to nuclear attacks if Europe refused to surrender.
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Europe → say → attacks
The honorary chairman of Russia's Council for Foreign and Defence Policy also dismissed the prospect of Britain or the United States retaliating with nuclear weapons.
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Britain → dismiss → weapons
His threats come as Moscow demands European countries cut the military and financial support helping Kyiv resist Russia's full-scale invasion.
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Kyiv → come → invasion
'If they continue this war, a European war with American help, against Russia, on Ukrainian territory, sooner or later we'll feel the need to escalate,' Karaganov told the BBC.
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Karaganov → continue → BBC
'According to my scenarios, the first series of blows will be conventional.
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series → accord → blows
But if Europe does not surrender, unfortunately, we will have to go nuclear.
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we → surrender → ?
'
Challenged over the prospect of a European response that would leave nothing of Russia, he insisted there would be no retaliation.
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he → challenge → Russia
'No, there will be no response from Europe,' he said.
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he → say → Europe
'What, Britain will attack Russia with nuclear weapons?
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Britain → attack → weapons
I hope you're not that crazy.
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you → hope → ?
Karaganov acknowledged that Russia had lost many people during the war, but criticised his government for failing to act harshly enough.
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Russia → acknowledge → government
A prominent Russian foreign policy strategist has warned Moscow will 'go nuclear' and leave 'little left' of some European countries if they continue backing Ukraine
Smoke and fire at the site of a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in a location given as Kyiv, Ukraine, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released on September 30, 2026
A handout image made available by Ukraine's State Emergency Service shows rescuers working at the site of a Russian strike in the Kyiv region, Ukraine, 30 September 2026
He said Moscow was now stepping up its attacks and destroying Ukraine's ability to function as a viable state.
The remarks come amid mounting tensions between Russia and European countries, which Western officials accuse Moscow of targeting through cyber-attacks, sabotage and drone incursions.
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officials → warn → cyber
In Germany, a drone carrying an explosive device was found close to Ukrainian cargo planes at Leipzig airport.
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drone → carry → airport
Western officials believe such incidents form part of an escalating Russian campaign operating in the grey zone between peace and war.
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incidents → believe → peace
Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, meanwhile, accused Europe of waging war against his country when questioned by the BBC about Moscow's alleged hybrid attacks.
He pointed to British and European weapons supplied to Ukraine and used to strike Russia, arguing that Moscow was entitled to destroy them.
The claim reflects the Kremlin's longstanding portrayal of the conflict as a European war against Russia, despite Moscow having launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Moscow → accuse → 2022
Putin has given little indication that he is prepared to halt the fighting, despite Russia's heavy battlefield losses and the damage to its economy.
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he → give → economy
His speeches and statements suggest he remains confident that Moscow can secure a military victory.
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Moscow → suggest → victory
The comments come after Russia on Wednesday warned Nato it was prepared to resort to nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to cut off Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea.
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alliance → come → Sea
In a document sent to Nato and seen by Reuters, Moscow accused the alliance of a 'dangerous and reckless course' that entailed 'high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict'.
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that → send → conflict
The document said this included the possibility of 'Russian strikes against decision-making centres in the alliance's member states right from the outset.
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this → say → outset
'
'Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, in order to defend its territory should NATO countries undertake any attempt aimed at isolating the Kaliningrad Region from the rest of the country,' the diplomatic note said.
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note → use → country
The warning highlighted Moscow's urgent concern at what it has presented as a growing Nato threat to Kaliningrad, a heavily militarised Russian territory that is wedged between Poland and Lithuania and is slightly bigger than the US state of Connecticut.
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that → highlight → Connecticut
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance had responded to Russia's message by declaring: 'We are a defensive alliance.
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We → say → message
This is absolutely not called for and not helpful.
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This → call → ?
In its written response, seen by Reuters, Nato also said that none of its 'exercises or activities pose a threat to the territory of the Russian Federation'.
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none → write → Federation
'We call upon the Russian Federation to end its unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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We → call → Ukraine
We urge the Russian Federation to refrain from increasingly reckless behaviour towards the Allies and to cease its irresponsible nuclear rhetoric,' it said.
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it → urge → rhetoric
The Aporia
