'USA Risks Worldwide War': Kremlin Warns of Catastrophic Consequences
Moscow, Russia - A senior Russian lawmaker has warned that the United States administration under President Joe Biden is risking global catastrophe if it allows Ukraine to use US-made weapons to strike deep into Russia.
Maria Butina, a member of the ruling United Russia party and former US prison inmate, claimed on Monday that the Obama-era decision not to supply anti-tank missiles to the Eastern European nation during the early stages of the conflict contributed to the escalation of tensions between Ukraine and Russia in 2014.
According to Reuters, citing two US officials and a source familiar with the decision, Biden's administration has given Ukraine permission to use US-made weapons to strike deep into Russian territory. However, Kremlin officials have been adamant that any such strikes would be met with severe consequences, including an immediate and severe retaliatory response from Russia.
Andrei Klishas, senior member of the Federation Council, warned on Telegram messaging app that the West has decided to escalate the situation "to a level where it could end in complete ruin for the Ukrainian statehood by morning." He also emphasized that Moscow will respond "immediately" to any potential strikes.
First Deputy Head of Russia's upper house international affairs committee Vladimir Dzhabarov described US authorization of such strikes as a "very big step towards World War Three." Russian news agency TASS quoted him as saying that his country would take "appropriate decisions" based on new threats, hinting at possible military escalation.
The situation has sparked concern among world leaders and analysts alike. President Vladimir Putin had earlier warned that any support from Western countries to Ukraine's strikes deep into Russia would lead to the direct involvement of NATO countries in the conflict, highlighting unprecedented consequences for all parties involved.
The United States has yet to confirm or deny the reports. Meanwhile, tensions between Moscow and Washington continue to simmer, putting global security at risk.