MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS/. The situation in the world is extremely alarming and there is no sign of de-escalation in sight, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday.

"On the whole, the situation is really alarming," he said, commenting on reports that the Doomsday Clock had been moved ten seconds closer to nuclear midnight, closer than ever before.

Peskov explained that he was talking about the situation in the world in general and in Europe in particular. "It is indeed extremely alarming and there is no sign of de-escalation, given the policy that has been adopted by the North Atlantic Alliance and the US authorities," he added.

The Kremlin spokesman emphasized the need to take a good, sober look at the tensions and grasp what’s going on. "This makes it incumbent upon us to be particularly attentive, vigilant and responsive, and take appropriate measures," he concluded.

The Doomsday Clock first appeared on the cover of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ magazine in 1947. The clock reflects expert views on man-made threats to human existence with a focus on nuclear threats, climate change and new destructive technologies.

In 2020, the clock was set at 100 seconds to "nuclear midnight," closer than ever before. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists President Rachel Bronson said on Tuesday that the decision to move the clock forward had been made largely due to the situation around Ukraine. According to her, "the possibility that the conflict could spin out of anyone’s control remains high.".