The Kremlin has issued a stark warning of potential global conflict, stating that British-supplied missiles used by Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia could trigger a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO with "fatal consequences." This alarming escalation in rhetoric comes after Kyiv reportedly used UK-donated long-range weaponry against Russian territory.
Kremlin Spokesman Warns of 'Fatal' Escalation
Dmitry Peskov, the official spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, delivered the grave message in a televised briefing. He explicitly stated that British officials were "fully responsible" for authorising the use of their weapons against Russia. Peskov framed the UK's actions as a dangerous provocation, suggesting they were pushing the world closer to a major war.
"The involvement of military specialists and the supply of weapons from the UK to Ukraine, including the authorisation to use these weapons against Russian territory, is nothing but a deliberate escalation," Peskov declared. He emphasised that such moves "could have fatal consequences and carry the risk of a full-scale conflict." His comments were interpreted by many analysts as a direct threat of war between nuclear powers.
UK's Storm Shadow Missiles at the Centre of the Storm
The immediate catalyst for the Kremlin's fury is believed to be Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow cruise missiles, supplied by the United Kingdom. These advanced, long-range missiles have significantly extended Ukraine's strike capability, allowing its forces to hit strategic targets deep behind Russian lines. Recent reports indicate they were used to strike key military and energy infrastructure within Russia's borders.
This development marks a significant shift in the conflict. Previously, Western allies had been cautious about providing weapons that could be used for offensive strikes on Russian soil, fearing precisely this kind of escalation. The UK's decision to grant permission for such use has broken that taboo, drawing Moscow's most severe warnings to date.
The Looming Shadow of a Russia-NATO Confrontation
Peskov's warning explicitly linked the UK's actions to the broader NATO alliance. He argued that by supporting Ukraine's strikes, Britain was dragging other NATO members towards a direct clash with Russia. "In essence, it is an attempt to deliberately drag the West into a military confrontation with Russia," he asserted. This framing positions the conflict not merely as a regional war but as a potential flashpoint for a wider European or even global war.
The Russian Foreign Ministry echoed this sentiment, summoning the British ambassador for a formal protest. Officials labelled the UK's policy as "openly hostile" and accused London of seeking to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Russia. The language used in these diplomatic exchanges is among the most confrontational since the invasion began in February 2022.
As tensions reach a new peak, the international community watches with apprehension. The Kremlin's latest threats underscore the fragile line between supporting Ukraine's defence and triggering a catastrophic expansion of the war. The world now waits to see how the UK and its NATO allies will respond to this explicit warning from Moscow.
