Ukraine Conflict Escalates Nuclear Security Concerns

Amid escalating tensions over the Ukraine conflict, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov urged the U.S. to heed Moscow’s warnings to avoid further escalation, emphasizing a lack of dialogue opportunity between the nations. Vyacheslav Volodin, a close ally of Putin, warned that allowing Ukraine to use long-range Western weapons inside Russia could lead to nuclear war. This sentiment was echoed by other Russian officials and highlights the heightened risk of a global confrontation. Meanwhile, twelve U.S. House Democrats have called on President Biden to expedite reviews for natural gas export terminals to support Ukraine's energy security against Russia. Despite these tensions, the U.S. remains cautious about fully lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western-supplied long-range missiles to avoid provoking Russia, with debates ongoing in Washington and London.