- Russia warns US against supplying Ukraine with long-range JASSM missiles
- JASSM missiles have 230-mile range, beyond Russia's border
- US-Ukraine agreement imminent, despite escalation concerns.
Russia has issued a stern warning to the United States, cautioning against crossing a critical “red line” by supplying Ukraine with advanced missiles. The missiles in question, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM), would significantly enhance Ukraine’s military capabilities.
According to US officials, Washington and Kyiv are nearing an agreement that would provide Ukraine with JASSM missiles, capable of striking targets deep within Russian territory. These missiles boast a range of approximately 230 miles, surpassing the range of the US-made ATACMS missiles currently in Ukraine’s arsenal, which have a range of about 190 miles.
Russia has consistently emphasized that supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine would cross its established red lines. Moscow views such actions as a direct threat to its national security and a potential escalation of the ongoing conflict.
Despite these concerns, Ukraine’s allies have been hesitant to provide long-range missiles, often attaching conditions that prohibit their use against Russian targets. However, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed skepticism that these restrictions would hold.
On Wednesday, Lavrov warned that the US should not underestimate Russia’s resolve. “They shouldn’t joke about our red lines,” he stated, suggesting that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky was “egging on” Western nations to provide the missiles.
Lavrov’s remarks underscore the heightened tensions between Russia and the West, as the conflict in Ukraine continues to simmer. The potential delivery of JASSM missiles has significant implications for the regional balance of power and the trajectory of the conflict.
