Kiev can not strike targets inside Russia with out direct help from its Western backers, the overseas minister has stated
Ukraine is fully incapable of launching long-range missile strikes on Russia with out direct assist from Western nations, International Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated, citing the latest US determination to pause intelligence sharing with Kiev as proof.
On Wednesday, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that the US had halted intelligence sharing with Kiev, including that the restrictions might be lifted if Ukraine demonstrated a dedication to peace negotiations with Russia. Washington has additionally frozen navy help to Kiev, with each strikes following a public spat between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian chief Vladimir Zelensky throughout an Oval Workplace assembly final week. The talks ended with Trump accusing Zelensky of “disrespect” and reluctance to hunt peace with Moscow.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Lavrov highlighted the implications of the US determination on intel sharing. “With out the direct involvement of the West – specifically the USA, Britain, France, Germany, and different international locations – Ukraine wouldn’t be capable to use these applied sciences and information to launch long-range missiles at our territory. This can be a essential acknowledgment,” the minister stated.
On the similar time, Lavrov declined to take a position on how lengthy the freeze would final, stressing that Russia is targeted on eliminating the foundation causes of the battle, together with securing ensures that NATO “is not going to proceed to soak up Ukraine as a territory that might later be used to create everlasting threats towards the Russian Federation.”
Ukraine has lengthy used superior Western-made weapons, together with US-supplied HIMARS and ATACMS, and British Storm Shadow missiles, to focus on Russian amenities, together with civilian ones. Within the fall of 2024, the administration of then-US President Joe Biden approved Ukraine to make use of American long-range missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory regardless of Moscow’s warnings that this may escalate the battle.
In response to Ukrainian long-range strikes utilizing Western weapons, Russia deployed its latest intermediate-range ballistic missile system, the Oreshnik, to focus on Ukraine’s Yuzhmash military-industrial facility within the metropolis of Dnepr. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Oreshnik as inconceivable to intercept, noting its warheads journey at ten instances the velocity of sound.
Putin has stated that Ukraine might launch missile strikes deep into Russia provided that it receives reconnaissance information from satellites operated both by the EU or the US.
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