From: slider@anashram.com   
      
   In a speech on the 80th day of the war in Ukraine, Russian Foreign   
   Minister Sergei Lavrov said: 'The collective West has announced a total   
   hybrid war on us.   
      
   'It is difficult to forecast how long this will all last, but it is clear   
   that the consequences will be felt by everybody without exception.   
      
   'We’ve done everything to avoid a direct clash but the challenge has been   
   thrown to us and we accept it. Cancel culture against everything Russia is   
   being used against us.'   
      
   'We are doing everything we can to defend the interests of our citizens   
   abroad. Ukraine is an instrument, a tool, to contain Russia’s peaceful   
   development,' he said.   
      
   As US President Joe Biden held a joint call with Finland's leaders on   
   Friday to support their NATO application, Russian officials responded with   
   furious bluster, with one threatening to reduce the US to 'nuclear ashes'   
   if America 'threatens' the Russian state.   
      
   'The West is opposing Russia to the last Ukrainian, especially the United   
   States which is [fighting] from beyond the ocean,' said Lavrov.   
      
   'Now [Secretary General Jens] Stoltenberg, through the mouth of Liz Truss,   
   say NATO has responsibility for global security issues.'   
      
   Zhuravlyov told Russian state media: 'If Finland wants to join this bloc,   
   then our goal is absolutely legitimate - to question the existence of this   
   state. This is logical.   
      
   'If the United States threatens our state, it's good: here is the Sarmat   
   [Satan-2 missile] for you, and there will be nuclear ashes from you if you   
   think that Russia should not exist.   
      
   'And Finland says that it is at one with the USA. Well, get in line.   
      
   Asked if Russia would now rebase nuclear weapons onto its border with   
   Finland, he said: 'What for? We don't need to.   
      
   'We can hit with a Sarmat from Siberia, and even reach the UK.   
      
   'And if we strike from Kaliningrad... the hypersonic's reaching time is   
   200 seconds - so go ahead, guys.   
      
   'On the Finnish border we will have not strategic weapons, but   
   Kinzhal-class, one that will reach Finland in 20 seconds, or even 10   
   seconds.'   
      
   'This is natural. If so far we had not predicted possible hostilities on   
   the part of Finland, then now they are quite possible.   
      
   He said Russia would massively strengthen its military forces on its   
   western flank.   
      
   'And this must be taken into account, without a doubt.'   
      
   He claimed Finland is being provoked into joining NATO by the US and   
   Britain.   
      
   'The Finns have nothing to share with us. They receive more than 90 per   
   cent gas, timber and much more from us.   
      
   'Who needs fighting first of all? The Finns? They are not afraid that   
   Russia is attacking them. 'Of course, sooner or later the Americans will   
   force them to do so.   
      
   'Just as they forced Ukraine to do it, they are trying to force Poland and   
   Romania. And, as practice shows, they succeed.   
      
   'It is impossible to say that Finland will join NATO and behave towards us   
   as before - this will not happen. The Americans will incite them to   
   provocations.   
      
   'We endure for a long time. But this cannot go on forever.'   
      
   Reflecting a view among hardliners around Vladimir Putin he said: 'The   
   United States will do everything possible to make World War III happen.   
      
   'Just not on their territory.   
      
   'They will try not to lead to nuclear strikes, but they will try to draw   
   the whole of Europe into a conflict with Russia, inflame the situation in   
   Asia, [and] set fire to as many countries as possible .   
   'For them this will be a very good way out of their internal economic   
   crisis.   
      
   'They will be able to attribute all their problems to the war, as they   
   already did in the First World War and the Second World War.   
      
   'They got out of their crisis only thanks to the war in Europe. But there   
   is a big danger: who guarantees that nuclear missiles will not fly? I do   
   not guarantee this.'   
      
   Asked by Ura news outlet if Russia could strike first with nuclear   
   weapons, he replied: 'Certainly.'   
      
   Asked under what conditions, he replied this would happen if the existence   
   of Russia was threatened.   
      
   Finland and Sweden were now 'joining an Alliance that wants to destroy   
   Russia. Therefore, we want to destroy them in response.'   
      
   https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10815861/Russia-threate   
   s-nuke-Britain-Satan-2-missile-just-200-seconds-Finland-10-seconds.html   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)