Moscow could decide to strike those countries that have authorized Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. The warning comes directly from the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. “The conflict in Ukraine has acquired elements of a global character after attacks by Western long-range missiles against Russia,” the Kremlin chief said in a televised address to the nation. “It is impossible to use long-range weapons on Russian territory without specialists from the countries where they were produced, this is known,” the Russian president remarked. Hence the warning: «Russia considers itself authorized to use weapons against the military structures of countries that authorize the use of their weapons against Russia». Moscow, the Russian president further explained, “will respond decisively and speculate in the event of escalation”. Putin reassured his intention to resolve the disputes “by peaceful means”. But, at the same time, the message is clear: “Russia is ready for any development of events.”
The Russian president then announced that Moscow had tested a new intermediate-range missile in an attack on Ukraine. The move came in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory with US and British missiles earlier in the week. Putin explained that advance warnings will be issued if there are further attacks with these missiles against Ukraine, to allow civilians to evacuate safely. This is also because, Putin underlined, “US air defense systems would not be able to intercept Russian missiles”. On the contrary, «Russian air defense systems repelled attacks by Western long-range missiles on the territory of Russia, the enemy’s objectives were not achieved». From Kiev the accusation is that the missile launched from Moscow “looks like an intercontinental ballistic missile”. According to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin “is using Ukraine as a testing ground.” However, after initial information from the Ukrainian Air Force, a Western official raised doubts that it was indeed a missile of that caliber. The fact remains that long-range missiles represent a new phase of the war. As highlighted by the Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, with the use of British Storm Shadow missiles on Russian soil «Britain is now directly involved in the war».
“These fights cannot take place without the intervention of NATO and Great Britain,” the ambassador remarked. Zelensky’s presidential advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, speaking to LaPresse about the use of Western missiles, highlighted how “the decisions of our partners will have an extremely important impact on the course of the war as a whole.” “Right now we are already seeing a panic reaction from Russia, which it is trying to disguise with classic ‘nuclear threats’ and the use of various missile formats for mass attacks against civilians,” commented Podolyak.
#Escalation #Mirror #response #conflict #global #Tempo
How might Western nations balance supporting Ukraine with avoiding escalation of the conflict?
## Interview with Dr. Anya Petrova on Escalation of the Ukraine War
**Host:** Welcome back to the show, Dr. Petrova. We’re now seeing a concerning escalation in the Ukrainian conflict following Russia’s reported testing of a new missile.
**Dr. Petrova:** That’s right. The situation is indeed escalating at an alarming rate. President Putin’s recent televised address reaffirms this. He directly warned countries that supply Ukraine with long-range missiles, stating that Russia reserves the right to target their military infrastructure should these weapons be used against Russia. [[1](https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-intercontinental-missile-war-putin-d50183ccfc28b10c71e93f3e68159a61)]
**Host:** This comes after Ukrainian forces used Western-supplied missiles to strike Russian territory earlier in the week. What are the implications of this development?
**Dr. Petrova:** The use of long-range missiles by both sides marks a dangerous new chapter in this conflict. It drastically raises the stakes and increases the risk of miscalculation. Now, not only is Ukraine targeted, but supporting nations could also become potential targets.
It’s vital to remember that Putin’s rhetoric, while threatening, hasn’t always been followed by direct action. However, his recent deployment of this new missile, which some speculate might even be an intercontinental ballistic missile [[1](https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-intercontinental-missile-war-putin-d50183ccfc28b10c71e93f3e68159a61)], sends a clear message: Russia is prepared to escalate further.
**Host:** What are the potential responses from the West to this latest escalation?
**Dr. Petrova:** This is a crucial question. The West faces a delicate balancing act.
On one hand, it needs to continue supporting Ukraine and deter Russian aggression. On the other hand, it needs to avoid actions that could further inflame the situation and potentially lead to a wider conflict.
We are likely to see increased diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation. However, the risk of this conflict spiraling out of control remains very real.
**Host:** Dr. Petrova, thank you for your insights. This is undoubtedly a critical moment in the Ukrainian conflict.
**Dr. Petrova:** It is indeed. We can only hope that cooler heads prevail and a path towards a peaceful resolution can be found.
