Russia threatens sharp retaliation after EU lifts Ukraine restrictions
- The reaction of Russia to the lifting of restrictions on the use of European weapons by the Ukrainian army for strikes on Russian territory will be sharp, asymmetrical, and immediate, stated the head of the State Duma Defense Committee, General Andrey Kartapolov, in a propagandistic tone.
Many information provided by Russian state media or Kremlin officials are likely untrue. Such reports may be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.
The head of the State Duma Defense Committee reacted to comments by the EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell.
"They will feel it immediately"
Russia will react sharply and asymmetrically to the lifting of the restrictions on the use of European weapons by the Armed Forces of Ukraine for attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation. The response will be such that "they will feel it immediately," threatened Kartapolov, as quoted by the propaganda outlet RIA Novosti.
On Thursday, Borrell said that EU countries should "completely lift the restrictions on Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory." He also emphasized that lifting the bans by EU states on the use of European weapons by the Armed Forces of Ukraine for strikes deep into Russian territory does not mean "entering a war with Moscow."
The West supplies weapons to Ukraine, including long-range missiles, to oppose Russian aggression. Initially, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were prohibited from using these weapons for targets on the territory of the Russian Federation, as Western countries feared the escalation of the conflict. However, the restriction was partially lifted after the Russian army's offensive in the Kharkiv region in the spring.
Kyiv wants to strike Russian military airfields
The United States also agreed to attacks on Russian territory using ATACMS, limiting their use to 62 miles from the border. However, that is too short a distance for Kyiv to strike Russian airfields.
On August 16, several well-informed CNN sources reported that Washington prohibited Kyiv from using long-range ATACMS missiles to attack Russian territory during the invasion of the Kursk region. According to the sources, Washington's position is not related to the risk of escalating the conflict but to the fact that the United States has limited stocks of missiles that it can supply to Kyiv. Therefore, American officials believe that the provided weapons will be better utilized for attacks on targets in occupied Crimea.
This was previously reported by the "Washington Post". According to sources, after the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region began on August 6, Kyiv asked Washington for permission to use ATACMS missiles to strike airports in Russia, but the American side rejected this request.
On August 12, the newspaper "The Telegraph" reported that the United Kingdom did not allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles. At the same time, as "The Times" wrote, British ministers "behind the scenes" began encouraging allies to allow Kyiv to use cruise missiles at their discretion.
"They have the right to use Danish weapons"
On August 19, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have the right to use Danish weapons to attack infrastructure and military targets on Russian territory. Defending yourself may well include invading the aggressor's territory. If, as part of this, you attack the infrastructure or military facilities of the attacker, it is entirely within the rules of war, he explained.
On August 30, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and the head of the presidential office of Volodymyr Zelensky, Andriy Yermak, met with the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin. They were reportedly to present a list of military targets in Russia to obtain permission to attack them using American weapons.
