• Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warns of potential nuclear war
• President Vladimir Putin warns Moscow will be "forced to react" to nuclear threats
• UK provides Ukraine with challenger tanks to defend itself from Moscow's troops

Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, warned on Wednesday that the threat of a potential nuclear conflict was not at its highest levels in decades.

The official said that Moscow was not veering away from its key provisions, which were doctrinal and political. Furthermore, he noted that non-nuclear states, particularly those not aligned with the United States, should call out politicians in Western countries who he claims have "absolutely lost their sense of reality."

Increased Risk of Nuclear Conflict

On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was ordering the suspension of his nation's participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the US It comes at a time when there is a delay in the annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly that was supposed to take place last month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday noted that he was in distress to see the aftermath of the Russian military's continued bombardment following Putin's surprise visit to the eastern Donbas region.

He argued that Moscow has only brought terrible suffering and ruin to the region, adding that there was a near-constant threat of shelling, which caused a threat to life. Zelensky said that the situation made it clear that the "terrorist state" cannot be stopped other than by Ukraine's victory, as per CNN.

The Ukrainian president said that he was still feeling hope due to every eastern city not under Russian control, adding that it was an honor to support the fighters and people nearest to the front lines.

The situation comes as the Russian president warned that his country is capable of reacting or would be "forced to react" if the United Kingdom gives Ukraine armor-piercing tank ammunition that allegedly contains depleted uranium.

On Tuesday, Putin reacted to confirmation that the ammunition contained depleted uranium and was part of a military support package that was being provided to Ukraine. It also contained Challenger 2 battle tanks.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin's Take on China's Proposed Peace Plan 

Vladimir Putin Warns of Russian Response

Putin said that given the situation, Russia would have to act accordingly, accusing the West of collectively starting to use weapons with a nuclear component. UK's minister of state for defense, Annabel Goldie, was the one that confirmed the package contained depleted uranium, according to Aljazeera.

She noted that the ammunition was "highly effective" in winning out against modern tanks and armored vehicles. The substance is a by-product of the nuclear enrichment process to make nuclear fuel or create nuclear weapons.

The heaviness of depleted uranium is crucial to bolster the strength of armor-piercing rounds because it helps the ammunition penetrate steel. The United Nations Environment Programme described such ammunition as "chemically and radiologically toxic heavy metal.

On the other hand, a chemical weapons expert and former British Army Officer, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, said that Putin's remarks were misguided. He noted that depleted uranium could not be used as nuclear fuel or to create any form of a nuclear weapon, said CBS News.

Related Article: Russia Uses Drones in War on Ukraine