Kiev using long-range weapons means NATO, Russia at direct war: Moscow
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Russia's ambassador to the UN says that the West will "incur all the consequences."
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US Army Tactical Missile System in operation in an undisclosed location on South Korea's east coast during a live-fire exercise in May 2022 (AFP)
Moscow will consider NATO countries at "direct" war with Russia if restrictions on Ukraine using long-range weapons to target the country are lifted, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said on Friday.
"If the decision to lift the restrictions is really taken, that will mean that from that moment on NATO countries are conducting direct war with Russia," Nebenzia said during a meeting of the UN Security Council requested by Russia over the issue of Western provisions of weapons to Kiev.
"In this case, we will have to take, as you understand, relevant decisions with all the consequences for this that the Western aggressors would incur," he added.
The Russian diplomat also stated that the United States is trying to shift all the blame onto others, but it will not succeed because there is "intelligence from US and EU satellites".
Read more: US cannot be trusted over long-range weapon ban on Ukraine: Russia
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy were set to discuss easing restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons during their visit to Kiev that began Wednesday.
The visit coincides with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's pressure on his Western allies to provide more power weapons with fewer restrictions.
"We're working that out right now," US President Joe Biden said earlier this week concerning Kiev's use of longer-range weapons.
Washington is committed to providing Kiev with "what they need when they need it to be most effective in dealing with the Russian aggression," Blinken said in London on Tuesday alongside Lammy ahead of their trip to Ukraine.
Read more: Russian security chief explains West's key 'mistake' regarding Russia
Also on Tuesday, The Times reported citing sources that the United States might lift its ban on Kiev striking deep into Russian territory within weeks.
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Western nations may have already decided to strike Russia using US-made ATACMS missiles, noting that recent media reports are part of an effort to formalize this decision.
Axios journalist Juliegrace Brufke mentioned, citing a senior US official, that Blinken is expected to grant Ukraine permission to use US-made ATACMS missiles against Russia during his visit.
"Most likely, all these decisions have already been made; this can be assumed with a high degree of probability," Peskov added. "At the moment, such an information campaign is simply being conducted in the media to formalize the decision that has already been made."
"At the same time, attempts are continuing to distance themselves from involvement in this conflict on the part of the United States and European countries. We do not think that this is working out," he underlined.
