Russian officials have escalated their rhetoric against Ukraine’s potential NATO membership and alleged US support for Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, warned that Ukraine’s entry into NATO would be tantamount to a ‘delayed declaration of war’ against Russia. Medvedev, now considered a prominent hawk in the Kremlin, emphasized that while Russia does not pose a threat to NATO or its member states, any attempts to advance hostile interests in Ukraine or other countries close to Russia will be met with increasingly tough responses.In a parallel development, Alexey Polyshuk, head of the Second Department of the CIS countries at the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused the United States of giving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a ‘carte blanche’ to launch new attacks on Russian territory using American weapons. Polyshuk warned of ‘unpredictable consequences’ for both the US and the world, suggesting that Washington aims to inflict a strategic defeat on Moscow.These statements come amid ongoing tensions and reports of continued Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that these attacks are putting pressure on Russian air defenses, forcing the allocation of limited resources to protect high-priority targets. This situation has led to calls within Russia for a more decentralized approach to air defense.The escalating rhetoric and accusations from Russian officials highlight the deepening rift between Russia and the West over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As NATO continues to support Ukraine and consider its potential membership, Russia’s warnings grow more severe, raising concerns about further escalation of the conflict.
Key points
- Russian official Dmitry Medvedev warns that Ukraine’s NATO membership would be a ‘delayed declaration of war’.
- Russian Foreign Ministry accuses US of giving Ukraine ‘carte blanche’ to attack Russian territory.
- Ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks are putting pressure on Russian air defenses, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
Contradictions👾While Russian officials claim the US has given Ukraine permission to attack Russian territory, US officials have not publicly confirmed such authorization.
