Angola has expressed concern over the use of heavy military equipment in the war in Ukraine as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visits the oil-rich southern African country.

In a statement, the Angola foreign affairs ministry said the use of “increasingly sophisticated equipment might lead to a greater involvement of the different parties to the conflict, and eventually lead to a third world war”.

The statement also highlighted Angola’s historic “friendship ties” with Russia and its “good co-operation ties” with Ukraine.

Angola initially abstained from condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but in October last year it voted in favour of a UN resolution condemning the annexation of Ukrainian territory by Russia.