"Of particular concern is the fact that for many months Ukraine has been soliciting the supply of ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, which are designed to strike targets at a distance of up to 300 km [187 miles]. If Kiev obtains such weapons, large Russian cities, as well as industrial and transport infrastructure facilities will fall into the area of possible destruction," Antonov told Sputnik.
"Such a scenario would mean direct involvement of the United States in a military confrontation with Russia," the envoy added.
According to Antonov, Kiev has already demonstrated that it will not hesitate to use long-range missile systems to attack Russian territory as it has been the case with the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s republics where the Ukrainian armed forces constantly violate the norms of humanitarian law.
On Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Kiev had requested Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and the US Defense Department is worried Ukrainian forces might use those to strike Russian territory and escalate the conflict.
The list of arms requested for future offensive operations also includes tanks, drones, artillery systems, anti-ship missiles, and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
Possible supplies of longer-range missiles to Kiev by Washington will be tantamount to crossing a red line and making the United States a direct party to the conflict, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Thursday, adding that in this case Moscow would be forced to react "appropriately."
ReplyDelete"Should Washington decide to supply longer-range missiles to Kiev, by doing so it will cross a red line and become a direct party to the conflict. Under such a scenario, we will be forced to respond appropriately," she said.
Zakharova warned that Russia reserved the right to defend its territory "by all available means."
"Possible supplies of missiles to the Kiev regime are identical to a situation in which European countries might host US-made ground-launched missiles, previously banned under the treaty on intermediate and shorter-range missiles, capable of hitting targets on Russian territory," Zakharova added.
The United States is unlikely to provide long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, also known as ATACMS to Ukraine, CNN reported on Thursday, citing officials.
ReplyDeleteThe Biden administration believes that supplying Ukraine with such systems could be too escalatory, as they could be used to strike Russian territory.
The weapons might be eventually provided to Ukraine, but such a decision is likely far in the future, the sources said.