Kremlin official threatens war against NATO if Ukraine uses US weapons against Russia | World News

Lina PortmanJune 1, 2024

9 3 minutes read

A senior Russian official said his country could go to war with NATO if Ukraine hits Russia's interior with American weapons.

President Joe Biden on Thursday partially lifted restrictions on how Ukraine can use military supplies sent by the United States.

In response, Russia's top security official, Dmitry Medvedev, issued a series of warnings to the West.

“Russia considers that all long-range weapons used by Ukraine are already directly controlled by the militaries of NATO countries. This is not military assistance, but participation in a war against us,” Medvedev said.

“And such actions could well become a casus belli [an act that provokes a war]”.

He said it would be a “fatal mistake” for the West to think Russia is not ready to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine – and raised the possibility of striking unnamed hostile countries with strategic nuclear weapons.

“Unfortunately, this is neither intimidation nor bluffing,” said Mr. Medvedev.

He said that the conflict between Moscow and the West was developing according to the worst-case scenario and that “no one today can exclude that the conflict will move to its final stage.”

Read more: Latest updates on the Ukraine-Russia war

Partially lifted US restrictions mean Ukraine can use US weapons to strike inside Russia, but only to defend Kharkiv.

However, U.S. officials stressed that Ukraine still cannot use long-range missiles and other U.S. munitions to carry out offensive strikes inside Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others have become increasingly clear that U.S. restrictions are preventing Ukrainian forces from defending themselves as Russia steps up attacks around the northeastern Kharkiv region.

American weapons may not win the war, but they could help stabilize Ukraine.

Alex Rossi

International correspondent

@alexrossiSKY

The front lines on Ukraine's northeastern border, around Kharkiv, appear increasingly fragile.

The second city is now within striking range of Russian artillery.

Washington's policy change is limited in scope, but it means defenders will now be able to fire U.S. munitions at Russia in that area only, in an attempt to stop the advance of Russian forces.

Again, the emphasis is on defensive action rather than offensive operations – but this is a matter of interpretation and will be very different in kyiv, Washington and, of course, Moscow.

Using American weapons to carry out attacks inside Russia has always been a red line for the Americans.

Since the start of the conflict, the Kremlin has consistently used bellicose rhetoric that such measures could lead to direct conflict with America – and the specter of nuclear war.

But the precarious situation in northeastern Ukraine and subsequent calls from the Zelensky government appear to have changed the calculations of policymakers in Washington.

This marks a radical change from the Americans' situation at the start of the war.

At that time, the supply of weapons was supposed to be only of a defensive nature and to be used inside Ukrainian territory.

You now find yourself in a situation where American cannons and rocket launchers can be used to target positions inside a nuclear-armed country and an enemy.

Russia's response was predictable: it warned that this decision constitutes a serious escalation and will have serious consequences.

However, this decision is unlikely to change the course of the war.

For many months, Ukraine has been striking deeper inside Russian territory and this has not changed Russia's fighting will.

But there is hope that American weapons power will help Ukraine stabilize an area that has been under constant attack for three weeks and appears increasingly weak.

But it also increases the possibility of direct confrontation with Russia in the future.

A Putin-backed think tank also suggested Thursday that Russia should consider a “demonstrative” nuclear explosion to deter Ukraine from using Western weapons on its territory.

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Mr. Medvedev, the senior Russian official responsible for Friday's threats, frequently makes serious threats against Ukraine and the West, often invoking Russian nuclear weapons.

Some commentators even say his extravagant statements may be designed to ensure he is not seen as a statesman and therefore a threat to Mr Putin's authority.