By Aaron Miller-
Russia has warned the United States of “unpredictable consequences” should US President Joe Biden’s administration continue to transfer weapons to Ukraine, The Washington Post reported.
A copy of a diplomatic note that Russia sent the US this week, viewed by the Washington Post warned that US and NATO shipments of the “most sensitive” weapons systems to Ukraine could bring “unpredictable consequences”.
The note sent to the State Department, revealed Moscow’s irritation with President Biden’s decision to continue to approve arms transfers as the conflict shifts to eastern Ukraine.
The warning itself has the potential of escalating the nature and intensity of the war, the more worrying element being the unpredictable nature of Putin’s reaction to increased arms from the United states. The direction of the note which included NATO demonstrates a potential widening of the scale of this already dangerous conflict, a key note being the importance of not allowing Putin dictate to the U.S or to NATO what support it gives Ukraine, at the same time not taking the warning from Russia lightly.
The United States has reportedly facilitated the shipment to Ukraine of long-range air defense systems, including Slovakia’s shipment of Russian-manufactured Soviet-era S-300 launchers on which Ukrainian forces have already been trained. In exchange, the administration announced last week, the United States is deploying a Patriot missile system to Slovakia and consulting with Slovakia on a long-term replacement.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has previously described the strategy as part of a plan to increase Kyiv’s leverage at the negotiating table, in an effort to eventually find a negotiated end to the conflict.
“We call on the United States and its allies to stop the irresponsible militarization of Ukraine, which implies unpredictable consequences for regional and international security,” said the note, which was dated Tuesday.
The shipments were “adding fuel” to the conflict, the note also said.
The report comes days after the Biden administration announced an additional $800m in military assistance to Ukraine, which has been fighting Russian forces since Moscow launched its invasion of the country on February 24.
The military aid package supported by the Biden administration included artillery systems, artillery rounds, armoured personnel carriers and helicopters – and brought the total tally of US aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began to more than $2.4bn.
“This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine,” Biden said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The steady supply of weapons the United States and its Allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion.”
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told reporters, including the 155mm howitzer cannon. This is the first time Washington will send the cannon to Ukraine.
“The systems that will probably require some additional training for Ukrainian forces are the howitzers [and] … the counter artillery radar, not a very difficult system to operate, but it’s not one that they have in their inventory,” Kirby said on Wednesday.
The supply of weapons and artillery by the U.S and NATO is designed to provide a united front against unjustified U.S aggression against Ukraine, and empower Ukranians to successfully defend itself against Russia. The attack against Ukraine by Russian troops against international law and already amounts to war crimes, details and full evidence of which is already being assembled by world renowned prosecutors.
Russian troops have targeted areas where civilians are present, including apartment buildings, schools and hospitals. The severity of the war with no immediate end in sight spells an uncertain future.
As important as it is for the U.S and NATO to continue to support Ukraine, it may begin to appear to Russians and some observers that the U.S and NATO are almost as directly involved in the war as Ukraine itself.
The U.S and NATO are providing a most needed support to a country that has been unfairly targeted. Boundaries may require a step back from the U.S and NATO following a factual determination that Ukraine are sufficiently aided with weapons.