Russia warns of ‘tangible’ retaliation if US missiles target its land

The Russian government has stated that if Ukraine employs US long-range missiles, it will provoke “an appropriate and tangible” response. A statement from the foreign ministry indicated that such an assault within Russian borders “would represent the direct involvement of the United States and its satellites in hostilities against Russia”. This policy shift, which involves President Joe Biden’s authorization for the missiles to strike targets within Russia, occurs two months prior to his scheduled departure from the White House. There is no information regarding whether President-elect Donald Trump, his successor, was consulted on this decision, or if he intends to uphold it, given his pledge to conclude the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Ukraine currently possesses US ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) with a range of 300km (190 miles), alongside French and British Storm Shadow missiles of comparable range. Previously, Western allies had prohibited Kyiv from using these weapons to strike Russian territory. President Biden’s choice to remove this restriction signifies a pivotal development in the conflict, which reaches its 1,000th day on Tuesday. Russia initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Presently, Moscow has escalated its assaults on Ukrainian infrastructure, coinciding with what appears to be a battlefield stalemate between the opposing forces. This US determination also comes after the deployment of over 10,000 North Korean troops to Russia’s western Kursk region, an area where Ukrainian forces have seized and maintain control of a small segment of land, to support President Vladimir Putin’s military. Unverified accounts suggest that North Korea might dispatch up to 100,000 soldiers, along with artillery and other armaments, to its partner. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has suggested that a formal declaration of the US agreement might not occur, stating on Sunday, “the missiles will speak for themselves.” There is a possibility that Ukraine could first deploy the ATACMS in Kursk; indeed, some reports indicate that the US might have limited their application there as a message to North Korea to cease providing assistance to Russia, and to Moscow directly. Western observers interpret Biden’s endorsement of these long-range missiles—potentially followed by comparable approvals from the UK and France—as a means of conveying to the Russian leader that a military victory in the Ukraine war is unattainable for him. President Putin has refrained from commenting on this recent development. In September, the Russian leader had previously stated that Ukraine’s deployment of such missiles would signify the “direct participation” of Nato countries in the conflict. On Monday, Putin’s spokesperson remarked that the US was “adding oil to the fire.” Conversely, Jon Finer, the US deputy national security adviser, stated that Washington had conveyed “clear to the Russians that we would respond” to both the presence of North Korean troops and the “major escalation” in Russian air assaults targeting infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Over the weekend, severe Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid resulted in extensive blackouts, with several fatalities and injuries reported. A Russian strike in Odesa on Monday claimed the lives of an additional 10 individuals and wounded almost 50. Donald Trump has not yet commented on President Biden’s choice. He secured victory on November 5 and is scheduled to re-enter the White House on January 20. Trump has pledged to cease US participation in foreign conflicts and allocate taxpayer funds to enhance the lives of Americans. He has also asserted his intention to conclude the Ukraine war within 24 hours, though without specifying the method. Recently, Zelensky expressed his expectation that Trump would pressure both Ukraine and Russia to reach a peace agreement within the coming year. French President Emmanuel Macron praised Biden’s decision as a “totally good” step. This US authorization might pave the way for France and the UK to permit Ukraine to deploy Storm Shadow missiles within Russia. The Storm Shadow is a Franco-British long-range cruise missile possessing capabilities akin to the ATACMS. As of now, neither President Macron nor UK Prime Minister Sir Keir has publicly stated whether they will permit Kyiv to use their missiles in a similar fashion. Concurrently, Chinese state media reported that China’s Xi Jinping called upon global leaders to “cool the Ukraine crisis” and pursue a political resolution. China has emerged as a crucial ally for Russia, which is endeavoring to mitigate the effects of US and European sanctions enacted due to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Beijing has consistently refuted claims that it provides weaponry to Moscow.