Russian official Medvedev issues stark threats to the West

Medvedev warned that Moscow could react to Western sanctions over Russia's attack on Ukraine by opting out of the last remaining nuclear arms pact, freezing Western assets and citting diplomatic ties with nations in the West

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman and the head of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev speaks, in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Picture: (Yekaterina Shtukina, Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP)

Moscow may respond to Western sanctions by opting out of the last nuclear arms deal with the US, cutting diplomatic ties with Western nations and freezing their assets, a senior Russian official warned on Saturday as Russia’s ties with the West dived to new lows over its invasion of Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, also warned that Moscow could restore the death penalty after it was removed from Europe’s top rights group.