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
What are the potential consequences of Russia targeting countries supplying weapons to Ukraine, according to Dr. Petrov?
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re discussing a major escalation in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Joining us is Dr. Anya Petrov, a leading expert on Russian foreign policy. Dr. Petrov, can you break down what we’ve learned about the latest developments?
**Dr. Petrov:** Certainly. As per the latest reports [[1](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-says-russia-fired-hypersonic-ballistic-missile-ukraine-warning-west-2024-11-21/)], Russian President Putin has announced a new phase in the war by firing a hypersonic ballistic missile at Ukraine in retaliation for attacks targeting Russian soil using U.S. and British missiles.
**Host:** This sounds incredibly serious. What does Putin say about this action and its implications?
**Dr. Petrov:** Putin claims that
the conflict in Ukraine has taken on a global dimension due to the use of Western long-range missiles. He warns that Russia feels justified in striking military installations in countries that allow the use of their weaponry against Russia. This effectively throws down the gauntlet, suggesting a willingness to extend the conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders.
**Host:** This sounds like a significant escalation. What are the potential ramifications of Russia targeting countries providing weapons to Ukraine?
**Dr. Petrov:** This escalation presents a serious risk of pulling NATO allies directly into the conflict. While Russia has not explicitly named any specific targets, the threat alone is a major concern, potentially leading to a wider war with disastrous consequences.
**Host:** What about the international community’s response?
**Dr. Petrov:**
It’s still too early to say definitively. However, this move is likely to be met with strong condemnation from Western nations and a possible increase in military aid to Ukraine. We may see further diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation, but the dangers of a wider conflict have undoubtedly intensified.
**Host:** This is certainly a rapidly evolving situation. Dr. Petrov, thank you for shedding light on this critical issue.