A senior Russian diplomat warned on Tuesday that the risks of a direct clash between Russia and the NATO military alliance are increasing, and that the consequences could be 'catastrophic'. In an interview with the TASS state news agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said there was a growing narrative in European capitals about the 'looming threat of a high-intensity war' with Russia. 'As a result of this escalation of tensions, including blatantly provocative actions in the nuclear sphere, strategic risks are mounting, as is the danger of a head-on clash between NATO and our country, with all the potentially catastrophic consequences that would entail,' Ryabkov told TASS.

It comes as Russia's army today began three days of nuclear weapons drills involving thousands of troops across the country, as Kyiv escalates its drone attacks and with President Vladimir Putin headed to China . Throughout its over four-year offensive in Ukraine, Moscow has flaunted its possession of nuclear weapons and repeatedly threatened to use them. The drills also come months after the last nuclear arms pact between Russia and Washington broke down, and amid a spate of comments from Putin touting the prowess of Moscow's atomic forces. 'From May 19 to 21, 2026, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are conducting an exercise on the preparation and use of nuclear forces in the event of a threat of aggression,' the defence ministry said.

The drills will involve more than 65,000 soldiers and 7,800 types of equipment and weapons, including more than 200 missile launchers, the ministry added. Aircraft, ships, submarines and nuclear submarines will all take part and the ministry said it would also test-launch ballistic and cruise missiles. The ending of the New START agreement with Washington in February formally released the world's two largest nuclear powers from a raft of restrictions. Russia has vowed to take a 'responsible' approach to strategic nuclear capability. But Putin has also said that developing Russia's nuclear forces is an 'absolute priority', with Moscow this month testing a new long-range missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Last week, Russia successfully tested its new Satan-2 intercontinental ballistic missile, the Kremlin said. Putin said that Russia planned to put the missile, also known as Sarmat, on combat duty by the end of this year. The Satan-2 is a 208-ton, silo-launched 'apocalypse' rocket the size of a 14-storey building capable of reaching 15,880mph. It is designed to deliver nuclear warheads to strike targets thousands of miles away in the US or Europe. 'It has the ability to penetrate all existing and future ​anti-missile defence systems,' Putin said in remarks last Tuesday. Putin's TV propagandists previously threatened to use the Satan-2 missile to hit the west. Putin also said that work on the 'Poseidon' and 'Burevestnik' small nuclear propulsion systems were in its final stages.

The Kremlin's propaganda machine has repeatedly claimed that the Poseidon could 'sink' Britain under 'radioactive tidal waves', while the Burevestnik has been dubbed a 'flying Chernobyl .' Moscow said the drills beginning today 'also address issues related to the joint training and use of nuclear weapons deployed on the territory of the Republic of Belarus'. Russia has deployed a nuclear-capable missile, the Oreshnik, to its neighbouring ally, which borders NATO. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent days accused Moscow of preparing a new offensive from Belarus, ordering his troops to reinforce his country's northern border. Moscow announced the start of the drills hours before Putin was due in China for a two-day visit.

The leaders of Russia and China are set to discuss how to 'further strengthen' Russia and China's strategic partnership and 'exchange views on key international and regional issues.' Their ties have deepened since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Putin visiting Beijing every year since. Moscow is diplomatically isolated on the global stage and is heavily dependent economically on Beijing, with China now the main buyer of sanctioned Russian oil. Setting warm tones for the visit, the two leaders exchanged 'congratulatory letters' on Sunday to mark 30 years of their countries' strategic partnership.

Xi said cooperation between Russia and China had 'continuously deepened and solidified', according to Chinese state media. And in a video message to the Chinese people released on Tuesday, Putin said relations have reached 'a truly unprecedented level' and that 'trade between Russia and China continues to grow'. 'The close strategic relationship between Russia and China plays a major, stabilising role globally. Without allying against anyone, we seek peace and universal prosperity,' Putin added, without mentioning any third country.