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Her
comments follow a flurry of warnings by senior Russian
officials, including President Vladimir Putin, that Western
military support for Ukraine is increasing the risks of a
catastrophic nuclear conflict.
"We will do everything to prevent the development of events
according to the worst scenario, but not at the cost of
infringing on our vital interests," Zakharova told a regular
news conference.
"I do not recommend that anybody doubt our determination and put
it to the test in practice," she added.
Russia has strongly criticised the supply of Western arms to
Ukraine and the expansion of the NATO military alliance closer
to its borders. Finland, which shares a long border with Russia,
this month became the 31st member of NATO, while Ukraine itself
also wishes to join, though it faces opposition from some
countries.
"They (the United States) continue to deliberately infringe on
our fundamental interests, deliberately generate risks and raise
the stakes in the confrontation with Russia...," said Zakharova.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, a close Putin ally,
said earlier this week that the world was "quite probably on the
verge of a new world war".
Putin casts the 14-month war in Ukraine - something he calls a
"special military operation" - as an existential battle with an
aggressive and arrogant West, and has said that Russia will use
all available means to protect itself against any aggressor.
The United States and its allies have condemned Russia's war in
Ukraine as an imperial land grab. Ukraine has vowed to fight
until all Russian troops withdraw from its territory, and says
Russian rhetoric on nuclear war is intended to intimidate the
West into curbing military aid.
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by
Andrew Osborn)
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