Medvedev Urges NATO to Abandon Belligerent Policy, Warns of Escalation in Ukraine Conflict

Moscow, The Gulf Observer: Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has asserted that the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev could swiftly end without further loss of life if NATO revises its stance and abandons its “belligerent policy” toward Russia. Speaking to Al Arabiya in an interview published on Friday, Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, accused NATO of direct involvement in the conflict.

Medvedev criticized the US-led alliance for allowing Ukraine to use long-range Western weapons, including US-made ATACMS and HIMARS systems, as well as British Storm Shadow missiles, to strike Russian territory. He argued that such actions have made NATO a de facto participant in the war.

In retaliation, Moscow recently targeted a military industrial facility in Dnepropetrovsk (Dnipro) with a newly developed intermediate-range ballistic missile. Meanwhile, France officially confirmed on Saturday its approval for Ukraine to deploy French-made SCALP-EG cruise missiles in long-range attacks against Russian territory.

“The NATO member states have essentially got fully engaged in this conflict,” Medvedev said, warning that these nations are effectively “at war with the Russian Federation.” He further claimed that Western countries not only supply weapons and financial support to Kiev but also assist in missile targeting, suggesting the involvement of foreign specialists in operating advanced systems.

Medvedev pointed to Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine, which allows a nuclear response to conventional attacks supported by nuclear-armed states, as a potential deterrent against further escalation. He described the possibility of nuclear weapon use as “realistic” under certain circumstances but emphasized that Russia’s leadership seeks to avoid such an outcome.

The former president reiterated that the conflict could be resolved quickly if NATO ceased its military support for Ukraine, stating, “If NATO stops fanning the flames of war in Ukraine, this conflict can be ended with no expenses for humanity. No new expenses, at least.”

Medvedev’s remarks come amidst growing concerns over the intensification of the Ukraine conflict and its potential global implications.