Russia does not want to press the nuclear 'red button'

"We talk about red lines, hoping that our assessments and statements will be heard by smart people, decision-makers. It is not serious to say that if tomorrow you do not do what I ask, we will press the 'red button'," the Russian Foreign Minister stressed. "I believe that in such situations, decision-makers understand what we are talking about. No one wants a nuclear war," Lavrov said.

However, Foreign Minister Lavrov warned that Russia possesses weapons "that could have serious consequences for those who control the Ukrainian government". They are in a state of full combat readiness," Foreign Minister Lavrov affirmed.

In addition, Foreign Minister Lavrov said that, unlike Europe, Russia always fulfills its obligations under the agreements and will not "shoot itself in the foot" by cutting off gas supplies. When asked why Russia does not stop exporting gas to the EU, despite all the negativity coming from that side, Mr. Lavrov replied: "We are decent people. We have signed long-term agreements with Europe. We always fulfill our obligations, unlike Europe and the United States."

“Currently, Europe meets its basic needs through liquefied natural gas, including gas from the United States. But if someone wants to buy gas from us, we will never back down from our agreements. We are neighbors. We have a pipeline system. Despite the fact that three “strings” of Nord Stream have been destroyed, the pipeline system remains, including through Ukraine, through Turkey, through the Black Sea. If it is beneficial for both sides, why “shoot yourself in the foot”?, Russia's top diplomat noted.

According to Mr. Lavrov, for many decades, since the Soviet era, since the 1970s, Moscow has established mutually beneficial cooperation in gas supplies.