The Russian Foreign Minister Sergie Lavrov has warned that if there is an escalation over the Russian-Ukraine war which involves Western powers then there will be mass destruction of the West.

Speaking to Al Jazeera news agency Lavrov stressed that nuclear weapons will be used in the even of a third world war, he added, “World War III will be a devastating nuclear war.”

The Russian Foreign Minister defended the invasion and warned that Ukraine will face a “real danger” if Kyiv is provided with nuclear weapons.

Read more on Russia-Ukraine war:

Experts warn Putin could drop a nuclear ‘tactical‘ weapon over ‘the North Sea’ in a show of force

In the ‘worst case scenario’ Putin could launch ‘low yield tactical nuclear weapons’ if forces fail to enter Kyiv

Russia’s ‘nuclear strategic missile forces and Northern and Pacific fleets’ now on ‘enhanced combat duty’

Over the weekend Vladimir Putin gave the order to place Russian “deterrent forces” on high alert.

On Monday the Interfax news agency reported that Russia’s Defence Ministry said their strategic missile forces and Northern and Pacific fleets had been placed on “enhanced combat duty.”

It added that this was in line with an order from President Putin.

The British Commons Defence Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood MP has warned on Sunday that Vladimir Putin could, in the “worst-case scenario” could launch low yield tactical nuclear weapons if his forces fail to enter the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

The Russian President wants to own the Ukraine and wants to rebuild the former USSR, if he does not get his way then he could use nukes over essentially what is a piece of land.

Ellwood who is also a former British Army officer said Western allies needed to think now what their response would be if  Putin were to use unconventional nuclear forces.

“He could certainly use other weapons systems which haven’t been really tested or that we aren’t really used to,” he warned the BBC.

“Chemical weapons, the worst case scenario would be low yield tactical nuclear weapons as well. We need to ask those questions as to what we would do.”