RT reported that Russia has issued a strong warning to the US and its allies, stating that any use of long-range missiles by Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory would mean direct involvement of Western powers in the conflict.
The Russian Foreign Ministry's statement on the evening of November 18 (local time) was made in the context of unconfirmed information that US President Joe Biden allowed Kiev to use US-supplied ATACMS missiles to strike deep into Russian territory.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that any such move would "radically change the nature of the Ukrainian conflict".
On November 17, the New York Times reported that US President Joe Biden had granted Ukraine a license to use ATACMS missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. However, the White House has yet to make an official statement.
When asked about the press reports, Ms. Zakharova also noted that they had not been confirmed by Washington. Spokesperson Zakharova added: "Kiev's use of long-range missiles to attack our territory would mean that the United States and its allies would be directly involved in hostile actions against Russia."
Although the White House neither confirmed nor denied the information, the possibility of such a policy change has caused a strong reaction from Moscow.
The Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated President Vladimir Putin's previous warnings about the ability of Western countries to provide long-range weapons to Ukraine. In September, President Putin stressed that any move to equip Kiev with such capabilities would force Moscow to make appropriate decisions.
Such actions would signal a change in whether NATO countries are directly involved in military conflicts, Putin noted.
Ms. Zakharova emphasized the seriousness of the possibility of escalation, warning that Russia will not stand still: "In this case, Russia's reaction will be very clear".
The Kremlin has repeatedly viewed Western military aid to Ukraine as a threat to its national security, and Zakharovas comments further underlined Moscows stance on long-range weapons.
The situation remains tense, with several Western leaders openly admitting concerns about further escalation and the possibility of direct conflict between NATO and Russia.
In the context of rising tensions, Russia has also noted the authenticity of policy changes in the US. "It is not yet known whether this information is based on official sources," a Russian statement said.
