The Kremlin believes that the United States has already given permission for Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range rockets to strike targets inside Russia. This statement came after U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned that his administration was considering allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons. Ukraine has been pushing for approval to use Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to target deep within Russian territory. However, while Biden has shown support for Ukraine, he has also expressed a desire to avoid direct conflict between the U.S. and Russia, both of which are nuclear powers.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that Moscow will respond appropriately if Ukraine’s allies ease restrictions on using long-range weapons against Russia, although he did not specify what that response might entail. Peskov accused Washington and its European partners of failing to distance themselves from what he sees as their direct involvement in the Ukraine war, stating that each new step increases this involvement. The U.S. had previously given permission for Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons against Russian forces when directly engaged across the border. Peskov claimed that allowing strikes on Russian territory would further legitimize Moscow’s military actions, which he stated were a response to Western support for Ukraine.
The ongoing debate over whether Ukraine should be allowed to use long-range weapons provided by the U.S. to strike targets inside Russia poses the risk of escalating the conflict further. Russia views any support for Ukraine in the form of weapons as direct involvement in the conflict. The Kremlin’s warning of an appropriate response highlights the sensitive nature of the situation and the potential for further conflict if any escalation occurs. The involvement of the U.S. and its allies in the Ukraine war is a point of contention, with Russia seeing it as justification for its actions.
The situation in Ukraine remains precarious as discussions continue regarding the potential use of long-range weapons against Russia. Any decision to allow Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russian territory would have significant implications for the conflict and could potentially lead to a wider conflict with the West. The geopolitical implications of these decisions are vast, given the involvement of major global powers and the risk of escalation in the region. The ongoing tensions highlight the fragile balance between supporting Ukraine and avoiding direct conflict with Russia. Ultimately, the decisions made by the U.S. and its allies will have far-reaching consequences for the conflict in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape.
