Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned Monday that Europe cannot afford a war with Russia, but said any such conflict could escalate to the use of weapons of mass destruction.
"Russia does not need a war with anyone in principle, including with the frigid old Europe. There is nothing to gain there," Medvedev, who is now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, wrote on Telegram.
"They simply cannot afford a war with Russia," he said of European powers, adding that "the possibility of a fatal accident always exists."
"And such a conflict has an absolutely real risk of escalating into a war using weapons of mass destruction," Medvedev said.
He added that speculation in European countries about a possible war with Russia in the next five years "should not happen," stressing it goes against Moscow’s interests.
