MOSCOW — President Joe Biden’s approval of long-range missile supplies to Ukraine, allowing strikes inside Russian territory, has triggered a sharp and furious response from Russian officials. State media and lawmakers have condemned the move, with some warning it could escalate the conflict dramatically.
The Russian government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta labeled the decision as one of the “most provocative” of Biden’s presidency, warning of “catastrophic consequences.” Leonid Slutsky, head of the pro-Kremlin Liberal-Democratic Party, called it a “serious escalation,” while senator Vladimir Dzhabarov described it as a step toward World War III. Despite the harsh rhetoric, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has yet to make a direct statement on the matter.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the U.S. of “adding fuel to the fire,” arguing that the U.S. decision represents a new level of involvement in the conflict. “If such a decision has been made, it will mean a new spiral of tension,” Peskov said.
Western leaders, however, argue that Russia itself is escalating the situation by deploying North Korean forces and continuing attacks on Ukraine. In the face of these moves, the Biden administration has stressed that Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons is a sovereign right to defend its territory.
For months, President Putin has warned that supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles would be seen as direct NATO involvement. In a September statement, he said such a move would be interpreted as “NATO countries fighting with Russia.” This latest U.S. decision to provide Ukraine with ATACMS missiles, which can strike deep into Russian territory, appears to confirm those fears.
In response, Putin has previously suggested that Russia would bolster its air defense systems and may seek to arm adversaries in other regions with similar weapons, possibly targeting sensitive Western facilities.
Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, hinted at retaliation options. He suggested Russia could supply long-range missile systems to groups like the Houthi rebels, potentially threatening Western naval targets like U.S. or British aircraft carriers.
Despite the tensions, some Russian analysts downplayed the potential impact, noting that Russia had already intercepted similar U.S. missile systems during previous attacks on Crimea.
Looking ahead, the future of U.S. military support for Ukraine could be affected by the upcoming presidential transition. With President Biden set to leave office in two months and Donald Trump poised to take office, the Kremlin is reportedly considering how Trump’s more skeptical stance on Ukraine might influence U.S. policy.
The situation remains fluid, with the potential for significant shifts in the conflict as new political dynamics unfold in both Washington and Moscow.
