The Kremlin has issued a stern warning, stating that Russia will undertake an “appropriate response” if the United States approves the use of long-range ATACMS missiles by Ukraine to strike targets deep within Russian territory. Moscow strongly suspects that Washington has already made a decision to grant this approval, a move that Russia views with deep concern.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly pressed Western allies to provide his forces with long-range weapons, aiming to counter Russia’s military advance. In response to these requests, US President Joe Biden acknowledged on Tuesday that his administration is “working that out now” regarding lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of missiles like ATACMS.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, during a daily press briefing, indicated that Moscow believes Washington has already decided to allow Ukraine to utilize these weapons for long-range strikes inside Russia. He emphasized that Russia would have a suitable response if this occurs but clarified that “there is no need to expect some kind of response everywhere.”
Peskov further stated that “To all these actions, the SMO (special military operation) is the response,” referring to the Kremlin’s preferred term for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. “Each of these decisions, taken by the collective West and then attributed to Ukraine, is an additional confirmation of the justification, necessity, and inevitability of the SMO.”
The US has previously hesitated to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons capable of striking targets within Russia, fearing such actions could escalate the conflict, now in its third year. However, sources revealed last week that the US was nearing an agreement to supply Ukraine with these weapons. However, Kyiv would need to wait several months, as the US addresses technical issues before any potential shipment.
