US President-elect Donald Trump has expressed his disapproval of Ukraine‘s recent strikes into Russian territory using weapons supplied by the West, arguing that such actions only intensify the ongoing conflict between Kyiv and Moscow.
In an interview with Time magazine, which recognized him as the 2024 Person of the Year, Trump stated, “I strongly disagree with launching missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. What is the purpose of that?”
He emphasized that these attacks merely serve to escalate the war and worsen the situation. “This should not have been permitted… I believe this is a significant error, a very significant error,” he remarked regarding the strikes on Russia’s internationally recognized borders.
Later in the discussion, Trump reiterated his concerns, labeling the current situation as “the most dangerous thing right now,” pointing out that “[Ukrainian leader Vladimir] Zelensky has chosen, with what I assume is President [Joe Biden]’s approval, to begin firing missiles into Russia.”
He characterized this move as a serious escalation and described it as a misguided choice.
Trump’s remarks followed a report from the Russian Defense Ministry, which indicated that Ukrainian forces had launched six US-supplied ATACMS missiles at a military airfield near Taganrog. According to the ministry, two missiles were intercepted, while the others were neutralized through electronic warfare, resulting in minor injuries and damage to a couple of buildings and vehicles.
On the same day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia’s response to the attack on Taganrog “will occur at a time and in a manner deemed appropriate. However, it will certainly happen.”
In late November, Russia deployed its advanced Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile system for the first time, targeting the Yuzhmash military facility located in the Ukrainian city of Dnepr.
Moscow stated that the introduction of this cutting-edge weapon was a reaction to the support provided by Washington and its allies, which enabled Ukraine to strike recognized Russian territory using the long-range armaments supplied to Kiev.
At that time, Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned that should Ukraine persist in its assaults deep within Russian borders, Moscow would retain the right “to utilize our weapons against the military installations of those nations that permit the use of their arms against our assets.”
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