MOSCOW, November 30. /TASS/. The risk of a nuclear exchange does exist but Moscow will do everything possible to prevent it, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS.

"We have said everything that needed to be said in terms of scenarios for the use of nuclear weapons; the president has made statements on the matter and it is also reflected in the updated foundations of Russia’s state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence. Saying that this risk is not there anymore would violate the truth. Unfortunately, such a risk does exist," he noted, commenting on a Science Times article about the possible outcome of a nuclear exchange between Russia and the US.

"We will do the most we can to prevent this catastrophic scenario," Ryabkov pointed out. "However, not everything depends on us in this case," he added.

"In the past, major research was carried out, many times, including by professionals, in order to assess potential consequences. Today, the situation is very difficult and tense," the Russian deputy foreign minister concluded.

The US needs to understand that Moscow’s messages about various possible scenarios aren’t propaganda but a reality, Ryabkov added.

"The key question is what our opponents will do and whether they will continue to move towards implementing the scenarios that are described in Russia’s military doctrine, that is, the foundations of its state policy. For now unfortunately, this is where things are heading," he pointed out.

"We need to face the truth and take note of this, which is what we are doing. I hope that our verbal and material messages are getting through to certain American offices and bunkers and aren’t being dismissed as propaganda. It’s not propaganda but a stark reality that needs to be accepted," the senior Russian diplomat added.

On November 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the country’s updated nuclear doctrine. The fundamental principle of the doctrine is that the use of nuclear weapons is a measure of last resort to protect the country’s sovereignty. The emergence of new military threats and risks prompted Russia to clarify the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons. In particular, the document expands the range of countries and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence, as well as the list of military threats that such deterrence is designed to counter. In addition, the document states that Russia will now view any attack by a non-nuclear country supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack.