The Kremlin has issued a scathing rebuke following reports that the Biden administration has greenlit Ukraine’s use of US-supplied long-range missiles to target Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declared on Monday that such a move would represent a “qualitatively new round of tension” and a dramatic escalation of US involvement in the ongoing conflict. Peskov emphasized that Russia’s knowledge of this alleged decision came solely from Western media outlets, stating, “If such a decision was indeed formulated and brought to the Kyiv regime, then this is a qualitatively new round of tension and a qualitatively new situation from the point of view of US involvement in this conflict.”
This condemnation echoes President Vladimir Putin’s September 12th warning that Western approval of such actions would constitute direct NATO involvement, necessitating the participation of NATO military infrastructure and personnel in the targeting and launching of these missiles. Peskov accused the Biden administration of “adding fuel to the fire” and deliberately provoking further conflict. He further reiterated Russia’s rejection of any proposal to “freeze” the conflict along the current frontline, dismissing recent peace efforts by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The initial reports of the Biden administration’s decision emerged on Sunday from Reuters and the New York Times, citing multiple US officials and sources familiar with the matter. These reports suggested that the move is partially in response to the alleged arrival of North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region, ostensibly to bolster Russian defenses against Ukrainian incursions. A Russian official with close ties to the Kremlin, speaking anonymously, described the US action, if confirmed, as an extremely provocative move for an outgoing administration, while suggesting it would not ultimately alter the conflict’s trajectory.
This incident marks a significant escalation. Ukraine’s recent seizure of a portion of the Kursk region represents the first instance of US-supplied weapons being used on internationally recognized Russian territory since the beginning of the conflict in early 2022. Russian lawmaker Maria Butina expressed grave concern, asserting that the Biden administration is “trying to escalate the situation to the maximum” and risked triggering World War III. She voiced hope that incoming President Trump would overturn the decision if it is indeed confirmed. Butina, a former unregistered Russian agent who served time in a US prison, highlighted the inherent risks of pushing a nuclear power to its limits.
Russian officials have repeatedly warned the West against testing the boundaries of what Russia may tolerate. Putin himself has adjusted Russia’s nuclear doctrine, stipulating that any conventional attack on Russia with the assistance of a nuclear power could be interpreted as a joint attack, triggering a potential nuclear response. In late October, Putin stated that the Russian defense ministry was actively developing various responses to potential scenarios where the US and its NATO allies aid Ukraine in launching long-range missile strikes deep within Russia. Butina, reflecting on the situation, added, “I guess there are some people in the United States who have nothing to lose for whatever reason, or who are completely off the grid so much that they simply do not care.” The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for significant further escalation.
