The Kremlin on Monday said the U.S. could face “fatal consequences” if it ignores Moscow’s warnings that Ukraine should not use weapons provided by Washington to attack Russia.
“I would like to warn American leaders against miscalculations that could have fatal consequences,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, Russian state news agency RIA reported. “For unknown reasons, they underestimate the seriousness of the rebuff they may receive.”
Last week, the Biden administration quietly gave Ukraine permission to use some U.S.-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russian territory. Some European governments recently gave similar permissions.
Kyiv has been calling for extra flexibility with the use of Western weapons as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces push into the Kharkiv region of Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden “recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them,” a U.S. official told POLITICO, adding that the policy of allowing long-range strikes inside Russia “has not changed.”
Putin last week warned the West against allowing its weapons to be used by Ukraine to strike Russia. “Constant escalation can lead to serious consequences,” Putin said on May 29. “If these serious consequences occur in Europe, how will the United States behave, bearing in mind our parity in the field of strategic weapons?” the Russian leader added.
Ryabkov referred the U.S. administration to Putin’s “very significant warning,” adding that “it must be taken with the utmost seriousness” and U.S. officials should “spend some time studying what was said in detail.”
