Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov issued a statement early Monday to western countries that have "frozen" or "Seized" the assets of Russia: "RUSSIA WILL NOT TOLERATE THE THIEVING HABITS OF WESTERN COUNTRIES; WILL NOT ALLOW THEFT OF ITS MONEY EARNED FROM OIL AND GAS EXPORT."

For most observers who have been paying close attention to the temper tantrums of western governments over the Ukraine situation, it appears Lavrov is talking about Poland who announced they were stealing Russian gas infrastructure to deliver Russian gas that Poland refuses to pay for.

Of course, Russia's statement might also apply to nations that "froze" Russia's sovereign wealth funds, gold bullion, central bank reserves, or grabbed assets of Russian oligarchs in an effort to coerce them into ousting Russian President Putin.

Lavrov did not get specific as to what thievery by the west Russia is referring to.

In a dramatic turn of events last week, US President Joe Biden and his NATO allies have stepped up their policy of helping to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression, with a policy of undermining its own power and influence.

In this way, some observers fear, leaving Russian President Vladimir Putin with little choice but to surrender or double his military forces, increasing the likelihood of the war extending beyond Ukraine, according to a Foreign Policy analysis.

Biden said:) "I will not." "Do you ever manage to dominate Ukraine? " In addition, Biden told the White House, the new policy was aimed at "punishing Russian aggression and reducing the risk of future conflicts."

This was followed by an equally clear statement this week from US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who, following a meeting in Kiev with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that the US goal now is to reduce its power. Russia in the long run, so that it does not have the "ability to replicate" its military attack on Ukraine. "We want to see Russia weaken to the point where it can not do what it did with the invasion of Ukraine ," said Austin of Poland.

The move may have prompted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to declare that Washington and the West have entered into a "proxy" war with Russia, risking another world war, which, as Lavrov warned, it could take nuclear form. "The danger is serious, real. "We must not underestimate him," Lavrov said.

The new US aggressive approach has garnered praise from many quarters, especially current and former NATO officials, who insist that Russia's nuclear counter-threats are just empty rhetoric....

Now, some observers are worried that with extra help and tougher financial sanctions, the US president is pushing Putin into a corner from which he can only fight or surrender....

George Beebe, the former head of CIA analysis, said the Biden administration was in danger of forgetting that "the United States' most important national interest is to avoid a nuclear conflict with Russia."

He added that "the Russians have the ability to ensure that everyone else loses, if they lose too. And maybe there we go. "It's a dangerous turn for us."