Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a grave four-word warning to Western leaders after Russia launched a new ballistic missile at a Ukrainian city in a further escalation.
The Ukrainian President said “The world must respond” to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who should be made to feel the “cost of his deranged ambitions” as the war enters its fourth winter.
It came after Putin revealed that his forces had fired the weapon, which he said was a medium-range, hypersonic ballistic missile known as “Oreshnik”, or “the hazel”, in a TV address.
This was later confirmed by the US, with an official saying that Russia had notified Washington shortly before the strike, which brought a number of explosions across Dnipro.
As tensions mount, Putin also cautioned that the Kremlin could use the missiles against countries that have given Kyiv the green light to use western-made missiles to hit targets in Russia.
Ukraine launched US and UK-provided missiles at targets inside Russia this week with the Kremlin warning the move would be seen as a major escalation.
However, it’s thought the decision to allow the weapons’ use across the border, after months of pleading from Kyiv, was in response to North Korea sending troops to assist Russia‘s forces, itself seen as a significant escalation.
Responding to Putin’s comments, Zelensky said: “The world must respond. Right now, there is no strong reaction from the world. Putin is very sensitive to this. He is testing you, dear partners.
“Putin must feel the cost of his deranged ambitions. Response is needed. Pressure is needed,” he added.
Meanwhile, Moscow’s UK ambassador has said the use of Britain’s Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine means it is now “directly involved” in the war.
Asked by Sky News if the use of Storm Shadow’s had dragged Britain into the war, he said: “Absolutely, Britain and UK is now directly involved in this war, because this firing cannot happen without NATO staff, British staff as well.”
Asked what the difference was between that and Russia using Chinese, Iranian and North Korean equipment, technology and manpower – and whether they were directly involved too – Mr Kelin instead pointed to foreign fighters on the Ukrainian side.
“On that subject, I can say easily that we have plenty of mercenaries from different countries that are fighting right now on the side of Ukraine,” he said.
Addressing MPs on Wednesday, UK Defense Secretary John Healey said: “We’ve seen over recent weeks significant change in the action and in the rhetoric on Ukraine, and Ukraine’s action on the battlefield speaks for itself.
“We as a nation and as a Government are doubling down on our support for Ukraine and determined to do more. I discussed this with (Ukrainian) minister (Rustem) Umerov in a call yesterday where he talked about the robust response that Ukraine is making to recent Russian escalations.”