Several former US officials have called me to inquire about the meaning behind President Putin’s recent toughest warning, according to the Russian ambassador to the United States.
In an article published on the Observer website on September 14, 2024, Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov revealed that he received phone calls from several former US officials after Putin issued a strong warning against the Western allies of Ukraine. Putin stated that lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons by Ukraine would greatly change the nature of the conflict, effectively meaning war with Russia.
I received several calls from former US officials who asked me about the true meaning behind these words, Antonov said. I simply replied, ‘Colleagues, don’t play with fire.’
The ambassador emphasized that the US cannot remain uninvolved if a nuclear conflict occurs in Europe. We have said it a hundred times: there are no winners in a nuclear war, but it seems that there is some illusion in the US that if a nuclear conflict occurs, it won’t affect the US mainland. I have been trying to convey the message that this war will affect everyone. That’s why we keep saying there’s no need to play around with such rhetoric.
Antonov also noted that the US is not yet prepared for serious negotiations with Russia to resolve the issue, and the upcoming US presidential election will not change the negative background and unfavorable situation in US-Russia relations.
Regarding the recent discussions on whether to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons against Russia, Putin stated that the essence of the issue is not whether the weapon restrictions are lifted, but whether NATO countries are directly involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. If the restrictions are lifted, it would mean that the US and its allies are directly involved in the conflict with Russia, prompting an appropriate response from the Russian side.
The article highlights that the Russian president’s statement has been delivered to its recipients and should not be subject to any double interpretation. The US, however, has said that it will take the statement seriously but will not change its policy on allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the US and its allies will respond to Russia’s warnings and what impact this will have on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Views: 0