MOSCOW, November 18. /TASS/ Speaker of Russia’s State Duma, or lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin has warned Ukraine that Russia could potentially deploy new weapons systems it hasn't yet used in Ukraine should Kiev venture to strike deep inside Russia with US missiles.
"As for Biden’s decision allowing Ukraine to strike inside our country with American missiles, if this happens, Russia will have to respond," he said, adding that the defense ministry would be in charge of deciding on countermeasures.
"But it is clear that a retaliation will follow," he stressed.
"It is not out of the question that new weapons systems, which have not yet been used against Ukraine, could be employed. We understand that the next step could be taken by the United States. And we will inevitably respond. This is what is called 'escalation,'" Volodin said.
The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia. Later, France’s Le Figaro reported that France and the United Kingdom had followed suit and allowed Ukraine to use their SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles for these purposes. However, the newspaper later removed this story from its website, giving no explanations. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that Paris had not altered its position on strikes inside Russia. The German government said that the United States had notified Berlin about Biden’s decision.
Meanwhile, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov recalled that Moscow’s position on potential strikes inside Russia with American missiles was clearly and unequivocally expressed by President Vladimir Putin in September. This decision, in his words, means a "qualitatively new spiral" of escalation.