MOSCOW: In a recent statement from Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov issued a stark warning to the United States, cautioning against potential "fatal consequences" if Washington allows Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia. This statement follows President Joe Biden's decision to authorize the use of US-supplied weapons for attacks on Russian targets involved in assaults on Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
Ryabkov, quoted by state news agency RIA, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “I would like to warn American leaders against miscalculations that could have fatal consequences. For unknown reasons, they underestimate the seriousness of the rebuff they may receive.” He pointedly referred to President Vladimir Putin's recent warnings that NATO countries are risking a broader global conflict.
The Russian deputy foreign minister criticized US officials, suggesting they spend more time studying Putin's statements rather than treating the issue lightly, comparing their approach to that of video games.
Putin’s warnings were clear and significant, Ryabkov stressed, emphasizing that any use of US-supplied weapons by Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia would directly involve Western nations due to the logistical support required.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated NATO's stance, asserting that the alliance has the right to support Ukraine in its self-defense without becoming a party to the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to Washington for allowing the use of US-supplied HIMARS rocket systems in the Kharkiv region. However, he underscored that this was insufficient, arguing that restrictions on the use of Western-supplied weapons severely hinder Ukraine's ability to defend itself.
Russian news agencies reported Ryabkov’s statement that any attempts by Kyiv to attack Russian early-warning radar systems would be met with countermeasures, possibly asymmetrically.
Last week, a Ukrainian intelligence source disclosed that a Ukrainian drone had targeted a long-range radar deep inside Russia, which forms part of Russia’s early-warning system designed to detect nuclear attacks.
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