This Would Mean a New Phase of Tension: Peskov

Allowing Kyiv to strike deep into Russian territory with American weapons, if it indeed happened, would signify a qualitatively new phase of tension and an increased level of Washington's involvement in the Ukraine conflict. This was stated by Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of Russia.

“If such a decision has indeed been formulated and conveyed to the Kyiv regime, this is a qualitatively new level of tension and a qualitatively new situation in terms of the United States' involvement in that conflict,” he said.

In response to a question about Moscow's reaction to this decision from Washington, Peskov recalled the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin at a cultural forum held in St. Petersburg in September.

“Only military personnel from NATO countries can perform flight assignments on those missile systems. Ukrainian military personnel cannot do this. Therefore, it is not about allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not allowing it. It is a matter of deciding whether NATO countries are directly participating in the military conflict or not. If such a decision is made, it would mean nothing less than the direct involvement of NATO countries - the U.S. and European countries - in the Ukraine war,” Putin had stated at that time. He also promised a corresponding response to the threats created for Russia by such a decision.