The United States will send an advanced missile system to Ukraine.
A message that arouses anger in Russia.
Foreign Minister Lavrov now warns that “a third country” may be drawn into the conflict.
In a column in New York Times President Joe Biden announced that the United States will send the “Himars” missile system to Ukraine.
The weapon has a range of 80 kilometers and will help Ukraine “to fight on the battlefield and be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table”, writes Biden.
From a Russian point of view, military aid is “extremely negative”.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov says the risk of confrontation between the countries will increase and questions the US promise that the weapons will not be used against targets in Russia.
“Attempts to present this decision as containing some element of ‘restraint’ are useless,” he told Ria Novosti.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov goes even further.
During a press conference in Saudi Arabia, he said the arms supply increased the risk of a “third country” being drawn into the war, reports Reuters. The country in question was not specified.
“A propaganda war”
The outcome can, however, be taken with a pinch of salt, according to Kjell Engelbrekt, professor of political science at the Swedish National Defense College.
– We will not overinterpret it. The Russian side has had a tendency to be eager and has waged a clear propaganda war in recent months, he says.
In his column, Biden clarified that the aim of the delivery was not to increase the risk of war between NATO and Russia. But which weapons are okay to send and there is no clear answer to, according to Engelbrekt.
“Recycle positions”
– It is an impossible balance. I did not think it was obvious why aircraft could not be sent, but it was argued that they could be used on the other side of the border. This is the kind of demarcation you try to do all the time, he says and continues.
– At the same time, they want Ukraine to be able to match the Russian weapons and in the long run push back and regain the positions they had on 24 February. Then I think you are satisfied from the American side.