Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former President, has warned that Moscow could destroy Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, with non-nuclear weapons if Ukraine uses Western-supplied long-range missiles. The statement was reported by Reuters on Saturday.
Medvedev suggested that Russia already has formal justification to use nuclear weapons following Ukraine’s armed incursions into the Russian Kursk region, but added that Moscow may instead deploy advanced non-nuclear weapons to turn Kyiv into a “giant molten drop” once Russia’s patience runs out.
“It may seem impossible, but it can happen,” Medvedev wrote in a Telegram post in English, highlighting that Russia is ready to respond to any further escalations by Ukraine.
Western Concerns Over Dangerous Escalation
On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the “incredibly dangerous” remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the potential for war between NATO and Russia. According to AFP, Jean-Pierre called for caution in handling the conflict.
Putin, speaking on Thursday, warned that if the West allows Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russia, it would effectively mean NATO countries are at war with Russia.
“If such a decision is made, it will mean that NATO countries, the U.S., and European nations are directly engaged in war against Russia,” Putin stated during a televised speech after attending a cultural forum in Saint Petersburg. He added that such an action would fundamentally change the nature of the conflict.
Ukraine’s Push for Western Missiles and U.S. Hesitation
Ukraine has long pushed for the ability to strike deep into Russian territory using Western-supplied missiles. President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the ongoing delays in providing such weapons during his address on Thursday, urging Western nations to act swiftly.
However, the U.S. and its allies have so far resisted supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles due to fears of escalating the conflict and risking a direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia.
The potential involvement of NATO in a more direct capacity, combined with Russia’s latest warnings, has intensified concerns about the future trajectory of the conflict, as both sides remain locked in a high-stakes geopolitical struggle.
