MOSCOW, October 7. /TASS/. Moscow wants to hear the assessment of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s mindless call to carry out a "preemptive nuclear strike" on Russia from Western capitals, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in response to French government spokesman Olivier Veran, who said that France maintains dialogues channels with Russia in order to rule out a nuclear catastrophe.

"We, of course, remain open for a serious conversation with the French side on the widest array of international and bilateral agenda, based on mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests - security, first of all. But today it is the West who irresponsibly speculates on the nuclear topic, accusing Russia of nuclear blackmailing. Meanwhile, on February 25 this year, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian noted that the ‘Atlantic alliance is also a nuclear alliance,’ hinting towards NATO’s readiness to use nuclear weapons. So who, I ask, is waving the ‘nuclear baton’?" the diplomat said.

"Instead of conspiracy theories regarding Russia’s intention, we would like hear Paris and other Western capitals provide principal assessments of Vladimir Zelensky’s mindless and irresponsible call to carry out a ‘preemptive nuclear strike’ on Russia," Zakharova added.