Russia’s former president, Dmitry Medvedev, said today that the West is effectively waging a full-scale war against Russia, so if necessary, Moscow will have to respond fully and launch pre-emptive strikes.

“We should act accordingly. We should respond fully. And, if necessary, to launch pre-emptive strikes,” Medvedev said, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

Medvedev, who is now vice chairman of Russia’s powerful Security Council, dismissed statements by Western officials that Russia might attack Europe, calling them nonsense.

“Let me remind you that our president has clearly stated that Russia has no intention of fighting NATO or ‘attacking Europe,” he said.