Can't rule out the possibility of a direct clash between NATO and Russia in Ukraine?

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin did not rule out the direct involvement of military personnel from third countries in the conflict in Ukraine on the Kiev side in response to the possible presence of North Korean military personnel in the Special Military Operations area.
Leonid Slutsky noted that “stirring up hysteria” around the establishment of full-scale cooperation between Russia and North Korea is only aimed at justifying the West, which is doing everything possible to escalate the conflict.
“NATO instructors have long been “inspired” (according to Lloyd Austin) to represent a “third party” to help Ukraine against Russia. But nothing can save the Zelensky regime, the Russian army is liberating the Russian homeland and will achieve all the goals of the Special Military Operation,” the Russian MP asserted.

Russia believes that providing weapons to Ukraine hinders the resolution, directly draws NATO countries into the conflict and is "playing with fire".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo containing weapons to Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia. According to him, the United States and NATO are directly involved in the conflict, not only supplying weapons but also training personnel in the UK, Germany, Italy and other countries. The Kremlin stated that pumping weapons from the West to Ukraine does not contribute to the negotiations and will have a negative impact.

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Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. President Vladimir Putin called the operation’s goal “to protect those who have been subjected to eight years of abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime.” To achieve this, he said, Russia planned to carry out “demilitarization and defascization of Ukraine” and bring to justice all war criminals responsible for “bloody crimes against civilians” in Donbass.