Russia has accused America of provoking conflict by allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles.

The Kremlin warned on Monday against a new escalation in the Ukraine war and promised an appropriate response if Kiev uses long-range missiles supplied by Washington to attack targets inside Russia following US authorization. .

The Russian spokesperson declared, “The use of long-range missiles by Kiev to attack our territory will mean the direct participation of the United States and its satellites in hostilities against Russia and a radical change in the essence and nature of the conflict ” Diplomacy, Maria Cazarova.

“In such a case, Russia’s response would be appropriate and felt,” he warned in a statement.

Moscow’s comments coincided with Ukraine’s announcement that a new Russian attack on Monday killed 10 people in the Black Sea port city of Odessa, following a massive weekend bombing on the country’s energy infrastructure.

In a strategic shift just weeks before Donald Trump’s inauguration, a senior US official said on Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity, that Washington has authorized Ukraine to attack Russia with its long-range missiles.

The New York Times and The Washington Post wrote that Washington’s permission was in response to the deployment of North Korean troops to help Moscow.

About 11,000 North Korean troops are deployed in Russia and have begun fighting in the Russian Kursk region, which is partly controlled by Ukrainian troops, according to Kiev.

Democrat Biden thus agreed to Kiev’s request shortly before leaving the White House and the withdrawal of Republican Trump, highly critical of US aid to Ukraine.

Speaking from the G20 leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro, Biden asked leaders of this group of major world economies to “strongly support the sovereignty” of Ukraine, but did not mention the missiles issue.

In their joint statement, the G20 countries, of which Russia is a part, said they were in favor of “any constructive initiative” that seeks a “just and lasting peace”.

– Caution –

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga said Washington’s decision could be a “game changer” for Kiev.

«Ukraine’s position has always been clear: we have every right to attack military targets on Russian territory. This is our legitimate right and it will save our citizens. This can have a very positive impact on the battlefield,” he said ahead of the UN Security Council meeting.

Kiev has long requested authorization to use long-range Western weapons to strike targets from which Russia launches its bombings and counter the advance of Russian troops in the east.

According to The New York Times, US-supplied ATACMS missiles are to be used initially in the Russian border area of ​​Kursk, where North Korean troops are deployed in support of Russian troops.

Until now, NATO countries were reluctant for fear of escalating tensions.

But on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron described Washington’s measure as “completely correct.”

And its foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, told Brussels that they do not rule out allowing the use of these missiles “against targets from which Russia attacks the territory of Ukraine.”

Germany, for its part, said that it is going to deliver 4,000 drones equipped with artificial intelligence.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “I’m not going to go into operational details.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky himself cautiously welcomed the US official’s announcement on Sunday night.

“Today, several media outlets report that we have received authorization to take appropriate measures,” he said.

“But attacks are not made with words.” “Those things haven’t been announced,” he said, “the missiles will make themselves known.”

– Odessa bombing –

On the ground, Zelensky indicated on Monday that he had visited troops defending the city of Pokrovsk, a key logistics point for Kiev’s forces on the eastern front and with Russian forces rapidly approaching.

The leader also visited Kupyansk, a city held by Moscow in 2022, where Russian troops entered briefly last week.

Farther south, in Odessa, a port city on the Black Sea not far from the front, a Russian missile struck in broad daylight on Monday, killing at least 10 people and injuring 55, according to the latest reports.

“I have seen horrors,” Andrei told AFP. The man, who lived in the southern city of Kherson, had moved to Odessa to be “quieter” and escape the daily bombardment of his hometown.

“But as recent weeks have demonstrated, the situation is similar to that in Kherson. Every day people die (…),” he lamented.

A day earlier, a massive Russian bombing against energy infrastructure killed at least 11 people and prompted power cuts to be announced on Monday as winter approaches.

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