Russia is ready for talks with the West on Ukraine "on a realistic basis". This statement was made by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu while in China.

"In case the necessary conditions are created, we remain ready for political discussions on a realistic basis - both on the post-conflict settlement of the Ukrainian crisis and on the parameters of further coexistence with the West in general," Shoigu said at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing.

At the same time, he believes that negotiations are impossible under the current policy of Western countries.

"The West's line, which envisages a 'strategic defeat' for Russia, virtually reduces the possibility of constructive discussions to zero," he added.

Shoigu also said that the current line of confrontation with Moscow "poses a threat of a direct military clash between the nuclear powers, which is fraught with catastrophic consequences."

At the same time, he clarified that Russia has not changed its nuclear doctrine or lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.