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 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 of 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 whether 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
What are Putin’s stated reasons for threatening countries supplying weapons to Ukraine?
## Interview Transcript:
**Host:** Welcome back to the program. Joining us today is Professor Anya Petrova, a leading expert on Russian foreign policy. Professor Petrova, thank you for being here.
**Professor Petrova:** My pleasure.
**Host:** Professor, President Putin recently issued some concerning warnings regarding attacks on Russian territory using long-range missiles. Could you elaborate on what he said and the implications for the conflict?
**Professor Petrova:** Putin stated that the conflict in Ukraine has taken on a ‘global character’ due to the use of Western long-range missiles. He threatened retaliatory strikes against countries that authorize the use of their weapons against Russia, essentially broadening the potential scope of the war.
**Host:** So, Russia is essentially threatening to attack countries like the US and UK, who are supplying these weapons to Ukraine?
**Professor Petrova:** Precisely. Putin argues that it’s impossible to use these advanced weapons without the involvement of specialists from the producing countries. He specifically mentioned the US and Britain, leaving no doubt about his intention to include them in the equation if these attacks continue.
**Host:** This escalation is certainly alarming. Putin also mentioned testing a new intermediate-range missile. What can you tell us about this development?
**Professor Petrova:** This new missile was reportedly tested in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. While details are still scarce, this move signals Russia’s willingness to escalate the conflict further and potentially utilize more powerful weaponry.
**Host:**
Ukraine has claimed this missile might be an intercontinental ballistic missile. How likely is that?
**Professor Petrova:** That claim remains to be verified. While initial reports from Ukraine suggested it could be an ICBM, a Western official has since questioned this assessment. Regardless, the use of any long-range missile marks a significant escalation in the already precarious situation [[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/14/world/europe/putin-speech-russia.html)].
**Host:** What are the potential consequences of this escalation?
**Professor Petrova:** The situation is incredibly unpredictable. Putin’s threats against countries providing military aid to Ukraine risk drawing NATO directly into the conflict. The use of more powerful missiles could also lead to significant civilian casualties and broader destabilization. This situation underlines the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions before the conflict spirals further out of control.
**Host:** Professor Petrova, thank you for your valuable insights.
**Professor Petrova:** My pleasure.
