MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Wednesday warned that it would respond “appropriately” if the United States lifts its restrictions on Ukraine using American-supplied long-range missiles to strike Russian territories after US President Joe Biden said his administration was “working that out”.
During a daily press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is closely watching developments regarding the potential expansion of Ukraine’s missile capabilities. “It will be appropriate,” Peskov said when asked about Russia’s response. He emphasized that Russia’s current military campaign in Ukraine, which the Kremlin refers to as a “special military operation” (SMO), is itself a reaction to Western support for Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has the deployment of long-range ATACMS missiles. Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged Western allies to provide Ukraine with advanced weaponry capable of striking deeper into Russian territory.
On Tuesday, President Biden mentioned that his administration was “working that out now,” referring to the decision on whether to lift restrictions on the use of such weapons.
Moscow’s concerns are exacerbated by the belief that Washington might already allow Ukraine to use these missiles. Peskov said that such a move would validate Russia’s actions in Ukraine, portraying the conflict as a necessary response to Western interference. “To all these actions, the SMO is the response,” he stated.
The United States has historically been cautious about supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons, fearing that this could lead to an escalation of the 2-1/2-year-old conflict. Despite this, reports last week indicated that the US is nearing an agreement to provide Ukraine with such capabilities, though the delivery might be delayed by several months due to technical preparations.
In Kyiv, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrived for a joint visit. Their trip follows discussions in London and includes meetings with President Zelenskyy.
Both Blinken and Lammy aim to gain a clearer understanding of Ukraine’s objectives and how Western nations can better support those goals. Blinken acknowledged the ongoing debate over the provision of long-range missiles, while Lammy reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine.
During their visit, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed gratitude for the military support from the UK but reiterated Ukraine’s need for long-range missiles to target Russian military infrastructure. Shmyhal’s comments reflect Kyiv’s frustration with the current restrictions and its belief that such weapons are crucial for countering Russian air operations.
Currently, the UK has provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles). These missiles have been used exclusively against targets in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
Ukrainian officials argue that greater missile range is essential to target airbases from which Russian warplanes launch attacks.
The policy surrounding the provision of advanced weaponry to Ukraine, including long-range missiles, will be further discussed during an upcoming meeting between UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday.
