Russia has warned of the "real" threat of World War III breaking out,
ahead of a Tuesday meeting between the United States and allies over
sending further arms to war-torn Ukraine.

Moscow's invasion of its neighbour has triggered an outburst of support
from Western nations that has seen weapons pour into the country to help
it wage war against Russian troops.

But Western powers have been reluctant to deepen their involvement, for
fear of sparking a conflict against nuclear-armed Russia.

Speaking to Russian news agencies, Moscow's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
warned the risk of a World War III "is serious" and criticised Kyiv's
approach to floundering peace talks

"It is real, you can't underestimate it," Lavrov said.

For months, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been asking Ukraine's Western
allies for heavy weapons -- including artillery and fighter jets -- vowing
his forces could turn the tide of the war with more firepower.

The calls appear to be resonating now, with a host of NATO countries
pledging to provide a range of heavy weapons and equipment, despite
protests from Moscow.

In a landmark trip to Kyiv over the weekend, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin
and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Zelensky and promised $700
million in new aid to Ukraine.

"The first step in winning is believing that you can win," Austin told a
group of journalists after meeting the Ukrainian leader.

"We believe that we can win -- they can win -- if they have the right
equipment, the right support."

And on the invitation of the United States, 40 countries will also hold a
security summit in Germany on Tuesday to discuss further arms to Ukraine
-- as well as to ensure the country's longer-term security once the war is
over.

Moscow also accused Kyiv of preventing civilians trapped with Ukrainian
soldiers in Mariupol's Azovstal steelworks from leaving the besieged
industrial complex despite a ceasefire announcement.

The Russian defence ministry had said it would allow a civilian evacuation
from Mariupol's sprawling steel plant, which has been sheltering the
remaining Ukrainian resistance in the southeastern port city.

But the Russian army on Monday evening said no one used the proposed
humanitarian corridor.

"The Kyiv authorities have again cynically undermined this humanitarian
operation," it said in a statement, accusing the Ukrainian government of
"indifference" towards its citizens.

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