Lavrov warns U.S. pushing limits with missile aid to Ukraine
Someone is mocking our red lines. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the United States knows where they are. He commented in this way on the possible delivery of American long-range missiles to Ukraine.
- The Americans have already crossed the threshold they set for themselves; they are being incited, and Zelensky sees this and takes advantage of it. Someone is mocking our red lines, which should not be mocked. They (the United States) know very well where those lines are, said Lavrov in an interview with Kremlin journalist Pavel Zarubin.
The Kremlin fears an attack deep inside Russia
The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs also quoted a statement by White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby, who previously stated that increasing support for Ukraine should be approached cautiously to avoid triggering a third world war.
- I would like to note a statement by National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby who said that one should be very careful about expanding support for Ukraine, so as not to start World War III because one would feel sorry for Europe. In effect, their genetic code tells them that no one will dare touch them. This destroys all principles on which Soviet-US agreements on strategic stability hinged; these agreements were later reaffirmed and developed with the Russian Federation, stressed Lavrov. According to him, the American sense of mutual deterrence is beginning to fade, which is "dangerous."
JASSM missiles for Kyiv?
On 3 September, Reuters, citing American officials, reported that the United States is close to an agreement on the delivery of long-range JASSM cruise missiles to Kyiv. The final decision on including the weapons in the aid package has not yet been made but is expected to be announced in the autumn.
Ukraine is demanding its allies lift restrictions on the use of long-range missiles for attacks deep into Russian territory. Washington does not agree to this due to the risk of escalation. At the end of August, EU countries did not agree to lifting restrictions concerning such attacks.
Ukraine is currently armed with US-supplied ATACMS missiles ranging up to 300 kilometres (rounding from 297).
On 21 August, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with Western weapons. According to him, this would strengthen Ukraine's self-defence. On 30 August, he explained that lifting the ban does not mean the European Union entering the conflict.
