- ‘If (the West) want it on the battlefield, it will be on the battlefield,’ Lavrov said
By DAVID AVERRE
PUBLISHED: 14:55 BST, 13 May 2024 | UPDATED: 15:24 BST, 13 May 2024
If the West wants to fight for Ukraine on the battlefield, Russia is prepared for it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared today, as Sweden‘s Prime Minister said he would be willing to host Western nuclear weapons should war break out.
‘It’s their right – if they want it to be on the battlefield, it will be on the battlefield,’ Lavrov said in comments carried by Russia’s RIA Novosti.
His statement constitutes the latest ramping up of rhetoric teasing a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO – a trend that has continued ever since French President Emmanuel Macron months ago refused to rule out the possibility that Western troops could one day be sent to Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin earlier this year warned deploying NATO troops into Ukraine could lead to World War Three, and the Kremlin has said any Western equipment used by Kyiv to attack across the border will be seen as a legitimate target, even if it is based in a third country.
The latest escalation in the war of words between The Kremlin and Western governments comes as leaked German documents suggested Berlin may be planning to introduce mandatory military service for men and women aged 18.
A Minuteman III ICBM is pictured in its silo prior to launch
A Minuteman III nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile is tested at the US’ Vandenberg Space Force Base
A soldier takes cover as a Ukrainian self-propelled howitzer fires a shell towards Russian positions
Ukrainian soldiers unload grad shells in a garage in the direction of Marinka, as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on May 09, 2024
Military paramedics treat a wounded Ukrainian service member, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, near the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv region, Ukraine May 12, 2024
NATO troops take part in Nordic Response 24 – a phase of the larger NATO exercise Steadfast Defender. The exercise involves air, sea, and land forces, with over 100 fighter jets, 50 ships, and over 20,000 troops practising defensive manoeuvres in cold and harsh weather conditions
Germany ‘considers conscripting all 18-year-olds’ amid fears of war
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Russia’s Lavrov, who has served two decades as foreign minister, said the nation would be ready to meet Western troops on the battlefield during a hearing for his renomination to his post in Putin’s new government.
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RIA also cited him as saying that peace talks on Ukraine due to take place in Switzerland next month without Russia’s participation amounted to an ultimatum to Moscow.
He compared the situation to ‘a reprimand for a schoolchild’ whose fate was being decided by teachers while he was out of the room.
‘You can’t talk to anyone like that, especially to us,’ Lavrov said. ‘The conference… boils down to restating an ultimatum to Russia.’
The tension between Russia and the West continues to mount as Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said this morning he was open to allowing nuclear weapons on Swedish soil in wartime – even as critics call for a ban on their deployment.
NATO’s newest member sensationally abandoned two centuries of military non-alignment to join the security bloc in March this year, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted a dramatic reversal of foreign and defence policy.
Now, Sweden’s parliament is set to vote on a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States in June which will give the US access to military bases in Sweden and allow the storage of military equipment and weapons in the Scandinavian country.
The Swedish Peace and Arbitration Association, among others, is campaigning for the government to put in writing in the DCA agreement that Sweden will not allow the US’ nuclear weapons on its soil.
Kristersson’s government has in turn said there is no need to do so, as parliament had already taken a decision to bar nuclear weapons in Sweden in peacetime.
But the Prime Minister today said that hosting nukes in wartime was a ‘different story’.
‘In a war situation it’s a completely different matter, (it) would depend entirely on what would happen,’ he told public broadcaster Swedish Radio.
‘In the absolute worst-case scenario, the democratic countries in our part of the world must ultimately be able to defend themselves against countries that could threaten us with nuclear weapons.’
He insisted that any such decision to place nuclear weapons in Sweden would be taken by Sweden, not the United States.
‘Sweden decides over Swedish territory,’ he said.
But, he stressed, ‘the whole purpose of our NATO membership and our defence is to ensure that that situation does not arise.’
If Ukraine had been a NATO member, ‘it would not have been attacked by Russia,’ he said.
Ukrainian servicemen of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade prepare for combat Challenger 2 tank in an undisclosed location near frontline in Zaporizhzhia region
Ukrainian soldiers fire a mortar in the direction of Chasiv Yar as Russia-Ukraine war continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on May 7, 2024
Ukrainian soldier preparing mortar shells in the direction of Chasiv Yar as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on May 7, 2024
A Russian howitzer fires toward Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location
Devastation to houses seen in Vovchansk, Kharkiv region, following Russian attacks this week
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said this morning he was open to allowing nuclear weapons on Swedish soil in wartime
In another sign of European nations preparing for the possibility of a monumental clash, Germany could bring back conscription for all 18-year-olds according to leaked military plans revealed this weekend.
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Military planners are discussing three potential approaches to preparing future generations for large-scale conflict, two of which involve a compulsory military year for all men once they turn 18.
It is understood that officials are in the final stages of discussions with German defence minister Boris Pistorius, and are expected to go public with official plans next month, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
Meanwhile, Mr Pistorius himself said he was ‘convinced’ that Germany ‘needs a form of military conscription’ during a trip to Washington last week.
He also previously described the country’s decision to suspend compulsory military service in 2011 as a ‘mistake’.
In one proposal being considered by military planners in Berlin, all men and women would be subject to conscription once they turned 18.
Germany’s previous policy on compulsory military service only applied to men.
Including women in conscription would require a change to the nation’s constitution, according to the newspaper, but ministry insiders reportedly believe the change would ‘most likely to receive societal approval’.
Another proposal, which is viewed by the defence ministry as a ‘a strong signal’ to both allies and rivals, would only apply to 18-year-old men, but would not see everyone selected, the leaked reports revealed.
Young men would be required to complete an online form and could then later be chosen for service.
One final option would see defence planners opt against the reintroduction of military service and instead focus on ‘optimising’ the current military system through more proactive recruitment campaigns.
But this would go against the defence minister’s own position on the subject.
Ukrainian tank-men are seen on a BWP infantry fighting vehicle prepare for combat as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in the direction of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on March 17, 2024
Germany could bring back conscription for all 18-year-olds amid fears out an all-out NATO war with Russia, leaked military plans reveal. Vladimir Putin last week declared his nuclear forces were at full combat readiness in preparation for a global war. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in Moscow
Tanks conduct live firing exercises during NATO drills in Latvia
Germany’s Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius takes part in a joint news conference at National Defense Headquarters in Ottawa on Friday, May 10, 2024
Meanwhile in the UK, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also recognised today the looming threat of war, declaring: ‘Putin‘s recklessness has taken us closer to a dangerous nuclear escalation than at any point since the Cuban missile crisis.’
But Sunak also looked beyond the war in Ukraine, warning that Britain faces an increasingly dangerous future due to threats from an ‘axis of authoritarian states,’ that include Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
‘I’m convinced that the next few years will be some of the most dangerous, yet most transformational, our country has ever known,’ Sunak said.
The speech today comes weeks after the British Prime Minister announced renewed focus on security, pledging to up defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030.
He also said that the world is the ‘most volatile’ for years and Britain’s defence industry must go on a ‘war footing’ in statements given during a joint appearance with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg at a military base in the Polish capital last month.
Sunak’s push to move Britain’s defence industry to a war footing came after General Sir Richard Barrons warned the nation is sorely underprepared for a conflict with Russia, and urged the government to invest heavily in reconstituting the armed forces to meet the challenge.
‘Russia is clearly angry and rearming so their capability will be restored and when the shooting stops in Ukraine, Russia will blame the outcome on us,’ he told MailOnline earlier this year.
‘We are already In confrontation with Russia. Right now, we have chosen to do very little about it.
‘During the Cold War the Army, at all times, was ready to fight at four hours’ notice. When the Cold War ended and there was no sense of existential risk to the UK, all of that was dismantled.
‘Now we would need five to 10 years’ notice of a Russian surprise attack to manage to deal with it. It’s deeply disappointing.’