Russian Diplomat: Risks of Direct Armed Clash between Nuclear Powers High

"We have come to the conclusion that the risks of a direct armed clash between nuclear powers are now high," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Primakov Readings conference.

Ryabkov also said Western opponents deliberately make unacceptable conditions for security talks with Moscow.

"We have come to the conclusion that we need to think about what's next and how to reduce to a minimum the risks of a direct clash. A professional conversation on this issue should be continued. Unfortunately, our opponents officially put forward deliberately unacceptable conditions for such a dialogue," he said.

According to the diplomat, the West is proposing to forget about its hostile policy toward Russia and return to dialogue in those formats, as it was before the current crisis in relations between Russia and the collective West.

"It can’t be like that. I think that the political science community and also officials in the West still, deep down, in their deep state, understand that it is correct to put the question this way and it is impossible for us to compromise fundamental security interests in the conditions of a direct and intense conflict in which the West is involved," Ryabkov said.