- Russia has warned the U.S. against ‘mistakes that may have fatal consequences.’
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has told the U.S. not to make any “mistakes that may have fatal consequences” with regards to allowing Ukraine to strike targets on Russian soil, the Interfax news agency reported.
It comes after the Foreign Ministry earlier warned that Ukraine using Patriot air defence systems in Russia would escalate the conflict.
Russia said discussions over allowing Ukraine to use Patriot MIM-104 air defence systems over Russian territory show the West is on a “path of escalation”.
The State-run TASS news agency cited Moscow’s foreign ministry as making the remarks today.
“Russia will take all measures to thwart such threats,” the ministry added.
In April, the Pentagon said it would “rush” Patriot air defence missiles and artillery ammunition to Ukraine as part of its new $6bn military aid package.
However, Patriot systems for launching the missiles will not be sent, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the time.
A Patriot air defence system unit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Reuters
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been forthright in saying the weapons are needed urgently and their absence is costing Ukrainian lives.
“Patriot” stands for “Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target” and is a long-range, all-altitude, all-weather air defence system designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.
The American-made missiles are produced by Raytheon in Massachusetts and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Florida.
The system is used by the U.S. and some of its allies, including Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Poland, Sweden, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Romania, Spain, and Taiwan.
Beijing has hit back at Volodymyr Zelenskyy after he accused the country of helping Russia disrupt a global peace conference in Switzerland.
China has said it would not be attending the summit because Russia would not be taking part alongside Ukraine.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it believes all efforts should be recognised by all in supporting peace measures around the Russia-Ukraine war.
Beijing has never “fanned fire or fuelled the flames”, said ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, addressing a question on the peace summit.
She added that there was “no situation of China exerting pressure on other countries”.
In the same press conference, Ms Mao also said China wanted to “deepen oil and gas cooperation with Russia”.
Yesterday, speaking at the Shangri-La defence forum in Singapore, Asia’s premier security conference, Mr Zelenskyy said China is pressuring other countries and their leaders not to attend the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, scheduled for 15-16 June.
“Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit,” he said.
“Regrettably this is unfortunate that such a big independent powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of Putin.”
@Sky News excluding headline