Russian President Labels US Decision To Send Army Tactical Missile System To Ukraine A 'Mistake': 'Just Prolongs The Agony'

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that the United States is increasing its involvement in the Ukraine conflict by supplying Kyiv with long-range ATACMS missiles, a move he describes as a mistake.

According to Reuters, Putin shared these views during a press conference in China, where he had briefed President Xi Jinping about the situation in Ukraine. He emphasized that such “external factors” and “common threats” only solidified Russia-China cooperation.

Putin expressed that Washington’s decision to send the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine, confirmed by Kyiv on Tuesday, “just prolongs the agony” for the country.

He stated, “Firstly, this of course causes harm and creates an additional threat. Secondly, we will of course be able to repel these attacks. War is war.”

See Also: Ivanka’s Damage Control? Trump’s Daughter Plugs ‘Timely’ Jared Kushner Talk On Israel-Hamas As Ex-President Faces Flak For Harsh Remarks

The Russian leader also indicated that the move does not have the capacity to alter the situation on the line of contact. He said, “This is another mistake by the United States.”

Ukraine had previously requested for ATACMS from the U.S. to help disrupt supply lines, air bases and rail networks in Russian-occupied territory.

Putin further commented, “A mistake of a larger scale, as yet invisible but still of great importance, is that the United States is becoming more and more personally drawn into this conflict.”

Despite ongoing tensions, Putin did express some optimism, noting that it was encouraging to see the West discussing peaceful means to resolve the Ukraine crisis. However, he failed to provide specific examples. Russia has stated its willingness to negotiate, but only if Kyiv accepts “new realities,” implying Moscow’s occupation of more than a sixth of Ukraine.

Kyiv, on the other hand, has been firm in demanding a complete withdrawal of Russian forces, including from the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

Read Next: Ex-Mi6 Agent Alleges His Friendship With Ivanka So Outraged Trump That He Took Revenge By Revealing Secre

Image via Shutterstock