The United States cannot avoid the devastating impact of a nuclear conflict, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov warned. In light of rising tensions between Russia and NATO due to the Ukraine conflict, Antonov expressed concerns that Western powers may allow Ukraine to launch missile strikes deep into Russian territory, escalating the situation further.
In an interview with Rossiya 24 on Friday, Antonov criticized the “illusion” held by some in Washington that a nuclear war would not reach US soil. “I constantly remind them that the Americans won’t be able to stay safely behind the ocean in such a conflict. This war will affect everyone,” Antonov stressed, urging against provocative rhetoric.
Antonov also highlighted Western accusations that Russia is engaging in “sabre-rattling.” In contrast, he pointed to US interest in understanding the effects of a nuclear strike on Eastern Europe. His remarks referred to a study commissioned by the US Defense Department to examine the impact of a nuclear war on global agriculture. According to official sources, the study will simulate the fallout from a nuclear exchange centered on Eastern Europe and Western Russia.
Earlier in the week, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons without restriction would drag the US and its allies directly into the conflict with Russia. Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, echoed this warning, asserting that the use of long-range Western-supplied weapons by Ukraine would mark NATO’s direct involvement in the war.
As tensions grow, Antonov’s message underscores the far-reaching dangers of a nuclear conflict, emphasizing that no nation, including the US, would be immune from its catastrophic effects.
