The Kremlin spokesman, Mr Peskov, said in a regular press conference on October 2 that if the U.S. had really handed out the tactical cruise missiles to Ukraine, Russia would take appropriate measures to react. It is not unacceptable to say that the background is that the former Ukrainian President Zelensky had just submitted a formal request to the Trump administration, hoping to get this long-range missile with a range of up to 1,600 kilometers, to be used to hit Russian targets. Peskov also noted that the information sharing between Timisoara was quite frequent, and now online real-time data is not new.
In fact, this wave of operations dates back to the end of September. When Zelensky went to the White House to meet Trump on September 26, he handed over the missile request document. Trump did not make an immediate decision, but Vice President Vance confirmed in an interview with Fox News on September 28 that the matter was already under evaluation and involved several other military aid plans. Vance spoke firmly, emphasizing that the president had to make the final decision, but also acknowledged that Zelensky's demands were within the scope of discussion. Russia responded quickly, and Peskov directly pointed out that once this missile is in hand, Ukraine will be able to attack deep targets in Russia, and the risk of escalation will rise sharply. He also said that these reports in the media did not come out of thin air, and that Moscow has been watching what is happening in Washington.
Putin himself got involved at the annual meeting of Valdai International Debate Club on the same day. He bluntly said that if the United States supplied Tomahawk missiles, it would destroy the dawn of Russia-US relations and trigger a new round of major upgrades. Putin emphasized that without the direct help of the U.S. military, Ukraine cannot use things like Tomahawks at all, which is tantamount to pulling the United States directly into the battlefield. He also hit back at Trump's statement that Russia was a paper tiger a few days ago, asking NATO what that is? This sounds thorny, but Putin's focus is still on missiles, warning that if he goes out this step, the situation will change. Russia's logic is simple and clear: Tomahawk is not an ordinary weapon. It can hit Russia's rear, which is equivalent to a direct threat to local security.
Recalling last year, Ukraine used American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles to hit targets in Russia. At that time, Putin ordered the use of hypersonic missiles in retaliation to Ukraine. Now the Tomahawk has a longer range, starting at 2,400 kilometers. If Ukraine gets it, it can target more energy points, such as facilities along the Black Sea coast. Russia has been advancing quite steadily in eastern Ukraine recently. On October 2, there were reports that the Russian army was pushing forward in several directions, but Zelensky was boasting of signing a major arms agreement with the United States. However, the details of the agreement were not elaborated, and the missile part was still hanging. Peskov also poured cold water on the press conference, saying that no matter whether it is given a Tomahawk or not, it cannot change the dynamics on the front line, and there is no panacea for Ukraine.
The U.S. side of intelligence aid has already begun, on October 1, the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. is to provide Ukraine with long-range strike intelligence support, focusing on Russian energy targets. This is not the first time, the Kremlin said, the U.S. Ukrainian intelligence sharing is a regular operation, through online channels to transmit coordinates and images. Russia's concerns are not only the missiles themselves, but also this intelligence to make Ukraine's strike more accurate. Think, if the refinery is bombarded, Russian economic pressure is greater, the supply of the frontline can not follow.
Zelensky's request was not a spur of the moment. After Ukraine's counterattack was launched last summer, the results were not as good as expected and the losses were considerable. Now that winter is approaching, Kiev wants to use long-range weapons to bridge the gap. After the Trump administration came to power, the aid policy was a little variable. Vance said in an interview that he was weighing a number of options, including the missile purchase plan. But Russia did not buy it, and Peskov warned that it would make the confrontation between NATO and Russia more direct. Last year, Putin said that NATO's assistance to Ukraine was equivalent to being at war with Russia. Now that missiles are supplied, this statement is even more true.
The roots of the conflict are also in the territory and security, Russia wants international recognition of the Ukrainian territory it took in special military operations, Kiev and European allies are dead and alive. Moscow also made clear that after the war not to accept NATO peacekeepers into Ukraine, saying that Ukraine wants to join NATO is the source of the crisis. Ukraine is backed by the Constitution, saying that the territory cannot be allowed, sovereign countries set security policies themselves, Russia is not entitled to veto.
The West has recently accused Russia of engaging in hybrid warfare, including airspace violations, but the Kremlin rejected, saying that NATO’s military aid had essentially started. After the press conference on October 2, the media burst, TASS first issued a report, and broadcast a lot internationally. The US NBC and the Guardian followed the report, saying that intelligence aid expanded to energy strikes, which made the situation more tense. Russia’s response was not screaming, last year after the ATACMS was used, they hit back with the first missile, this time the tactic is coming, the estimate measures are heavier.