Russia Warns NATO: Escalation Risks Nuclear Confrontation

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Gruško warned that NATO's rhetoric on strategic defeat increases the risk of escalation to the most severe phase, referencing Russia's nuclear doctrine. This is a continuation of Russia's nuclear signaling, but the explicit linkage to NATO's stated goals marks a sharpening of rhetoric. The statement underscores heightened nuclear tensions, though it remains declaratory and not a change in posture.