Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, has said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nations were risking World War III by providing Ukraine with weapons.

According to Aljazeera, the minister said NATO was “in essence” engaged in a proxy war with Moscow by supplying Kyiv with weapons.

Lavrov also said if the United States and Ukraine’s other western allies continue to arm the country, the risk of the war escalating into a nuclear conflict should not be underestimated.

The minister added that the core of any agreement to end the conflict in Ukraine would depend largely on the military situation on the ground.

The veteran Kremlin diplomat issued this warning as Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State and Lloyd Austin, Defense Secretary, visited Kyiv and promised more military assistance to Ukraine.

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When asked about the importance of avoiding World War III and whether the current situation was comparable to the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, Lavrov said Russia was doing a lot to uphold the principle of striving to prevent nuclear war at all costs.

“This is our key position on which we base everything. The risks now are considerable,” he said.

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“I would not want to elevate those risks artificially. Many would like that. The danger is serious, real. And we must not underestimate it.”

The Russia-Ukraine war has left thousands dead or wounded. It has also forced millions of people to flee the country.

Many also fear that the war may escalate to World War III, if allies of both countries decide to wade in.