Ukraine war: 'Global catastrophe' threats, 'corruption' at Ukrainian MoD, Berlin tank stance slammed

 A close ally of President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that delivering offensive weapons to Kyiv will lead to a world disaster by making arguments against using nuclear weapons untenable.

Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the Duma -- Russia's lower house of parliament -- warned that US and NATO support of Ukraine is pushing the world to a "terrible war".

He singled out the delivery of longer range weapons that could hit Russian territory. 

"If Washington and NATO countries supply weapons that will be used to strike civilian cities and attempt to seize our territories, as they threaten, this will lead to retaliatory measures using more powerful weapons," Volodin said on Telegram. 

"Arguments that the nuclear powers have not previously used weapons of mass destruction in local conflicts are untenable. Because these states did not face a situation where there was a threat to the security of their citizens and the territorial integrity of the country."

Volodin, 58, has been the Duma speaker since 2016, having previously held a senior role in the presidential administration. As a member of Putin's Security Council, he has regular access to the president.

"Deliveries of offensive weapons to the Kyiv regime will lead to a global catastrophe," he said.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense denied signing military contracts at inflated prices on Sunday, rejecting accusations of corruption in a country where embezzlement is rife. 

The comment follows media reports in Ukraine accusing the ministry of agreeing to contracts for supplying food to soldiers on the front line at "two to three" times the normal price. 

The contract in question amounts to €320 million for 2023, according to the ZN.UA news site.

“The ministry purchases relevant products