FACT CHECK: Lavrov Makes False, Incendiary Comments on Nuclear Threat

On March 3, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the West of spreading fears of a nuclear war in the wake of his country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking to the Russian and foreign press in Moscow, Lavrov said: “I invite you just to get acquainted with the facts, and not try to pretend that a very Hollywood action movie is developing according to the script that was written by your colleagues, where there is absolute evil and absolute good."

He added: “We are convinced that we are doing the right thing.”

Lavrov is among those that the United States and its European allies have sanctioned for the invasion. He characterized the latest sanctions as “a kind of tax on independence” and said that the West is trying to subordinate the Russian Federation to its "dictatorship," but that Moscow will never submit, Russia’s TASS state news agency reported. He insisted that Russia remains open to peace talks but added that Ukraine’s “demilitarization” will be seen through to the end.

Lavrov also blamed the West for spreading fear of a nuclear war:

"Everyone understands that the Third World War can only be nuclear. But I draw your attention to the fact that nuclear war is constantly spinning in the heads of Western politicians, not in the heads of Russians."

That is false.

In fact, fears of a nuclear war and discussion of such a possibility have been provoked by Lavrov’s boss, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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[intricatic]

Launch the nukes already. I'm tired of having to go to work.

[timj.]

Lavrov better find a bunker! Don't mess with the U.S. our NATO allies!

[Dan-ztvc]

If you wish for peace as I do, the first step would be to deescalate, begin by calling this a "conflict" not a war, I pray to God we never get to war . 🙏