The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned the United States that if it supplies air defense missiles to Ukraine, it would be “another provocative move” on its part that could force Moscow to retaliate.
According to the American news agency Associated Press, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during the weekly briefing on Thursday on reports that Washington will supply Kiev with Patriot surface-to-air missiles, saying, “The war in Ukraine The US has effectively become a party.’
“Increased US military assistance, including the transfer of such advanced weapons, would mean a wider involvement of (US) military personnel in the war and its potential consequences,” he added. .’
However, Maria Zakharova did not elaborate on what these ‘possible outcomes’ might be.
U.S. officials said Tuesday that the U.S. has agreed to provide Patriot missiles at the urgent request of Ukrainian leaders. Its official announcement is expected soon.
Ukraine is anxiously awaiting these advanced weapons to shoot down Russian missiles that have destroyed the country’s infrastructure.
It should be noted that Patriot missiles require as many as 90 troops to operate, and the U.S. has been reluctant for months to deliver the sophisticated system because it would require sending troops to Ukraine to use it, which Biden said. Management does not want that.
Concerns remain, however, that even without the presence of US troops to train Ukrainians to use the system, deploying the missiles could provoke Russia or risk a missile being fired into Russia. Can go inside, which can escalate the conflict.
Even before reports of the delivery of the Patriot system, Dmitry Medvedev, the vice president of Russia’s Security Council, warned that if the Patriots “arrived in Ukraine with NATO troops, they would immediately become a legitimate target for our armed forces.” Will go.’
Asked yesterday if the Kremlin supported the threat, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov answered yes.
However, he told reporters that he would refrain from commenting further until the delivery of the Patriot to Ukraine is officially announced.
In this regard, Ukraine has also given a cautious response. Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hina Miliar told reporters in Kiev on Thursday that the delivery of weapons like the Patriots was “sensitive not only to Ukraine, but also to our partners” and that only President Volodymyr Zelenskyi or Defense Minister Oleksiy Riznikov would approve such a deal. Will make an official announcement.