Russia warns of ‘consequences’ if US sends Patriot missiles to Ukraine
- A foreign ministry spokeswoman says the US has ‘effectively become a party’ to the war, amid reports it will provide Kyiv with the advanced air defence systems
- On the US side, there are concerns about how to train Ukrainian forces to use the Patriot batteries, as well as the risk of a stray missile hitting Russia
Russia’s foreign ministry warned on Thursday that if the United States confirms reports that it plans to deliver sophisticated air defence missiles to Ukraine, it would be “another provocative move by the US” that could prompt a response from Moscow.
Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a weekly briefing that the US had “effectively become a party” to the war in Ukraine, following reports that it will provide Kyiv with Patriot surface-to-air missiles, the most advanced the West has yet offered to help repel Russian aerial attacks.
Growing amounts of US military aid, including the transfer of such sophisticated weapons, “would mean even broader involvement of military personnel in the hostilities and could entail possible consequences”, Zakharova added.
She did not specify what the consequences might be.
US officials said on Tuesday that Washington was poised to approve sending a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine, finally agreeing to an urgent request from Ukrainian leaders desperate for more robust weapons to shoot down incoming Russian missiles that have crippled much of the country’s vital infrastructure. An official announcement is expected soon.