Allowing Ukraine to use American weapons to attack Russia's homeland, does the United States not believe there will be "fatal consequences"?

The actual harm is not significant, but the danger is extremely strong.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Velyssek said on the 3rd that the Ukrainian military has used Western aid weapons for the first time to strike targets within Russia, destroying a set of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems. US officials confirmed on May 30th that President Biden has conditionally agreed to Ukraine using US aid weapons to strike targets within Russia. Previously, some European countries also changed their stance and agreed to lift the ban. The Russian side has warned the United States, the West, and Ukraine that this will lead to "fatal consequences".

Although Ukraine has previously used foreign aid weapons to air attack Russian targets, does this clear statement of the United States and the West and Ukraine's practical demonstration mark a new turning point in the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

In the view of Zheng Runyu, a scholar at the Russian Research Center of East China Normal University, this move is not very harmful in essence, and the danger is extremely strong. "Saving face" is greater than practical significance. "The logic of the United States and the West is that defeating Russia is the solution to the problem, rather than prioritizing the cessation of fire."

What is lacking and what is showing

"It's burning very well. This is the Russian S-300. It's on Russian territory." Veleshiuk posted a graphic post on his social media account. The picture shows multiple cars burning, emitting billowing black smoke. She wrote that this strike occurred in the first few days of Ukraine's approval to use Western weapons on enemy territory.

It is reported that on the 2nd, the Ukrainian military used the US aid "Hamas" high mobility rocket launcher to strike the S-300 air defense system deployed in Belgorod Oblast, Russia.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Veleshiuk posted on social media that the Ukrainian military is using Western aid weapons for the first time to strike targets inside Russia, as shown in a picture

After obtaining the "license", the Ukrainian side quickly "shipped" and made high-profile "photos", which may seem to have achieved significant results, but actually exposed the current situation of weak external military support and poor combat conditions, which can be said to be "what is lacking and what is showing". Using foreign weapons to attack the Russian mainland may be considered a life-saving straw.

Zheng Runyu, a scholar at the Russian Research Center of East China Normal University, pointed out that in terms of weapon assistance, a new round of military aid has not been implemented yet. For example, the urgently needed air and air defense forces of the Ukrainian army have not been supplemented, and the F16, which is believed by the United States and the West to be able to turn the tide of the war, has not appeared; At the personnel training level, the predetermined effect was not achieved on the battlefield; In terms of combat situation, the Ukrainian military has currently achieved almost no significant results in the design of the US and the West. All of these make it difficult for Ukraine and the West, both internally and externally, to explain.

Zheng Runyu stated that in the situation where the Ukrainian military was unable to make progress in the frontal conflict, the United States and the West supported its efforts to strike at Russia's domestic targets, thus making a comeback in the war situation and propaganda, that is, clarifying the determination to assist Ukraine in resisting Russia and demonstrating that this is fruitful. For Ukraine, as the Ukrainian front line tightens, attacking the Russian mainland can to some extent boost the morale of the Ukrainian army and demonstrate to the outside world that it is still fighting.

Increased risk of conflict escalation

I have hit the target, posted on my social media, and regained face, but the risk has also increased sharply.

On the same day as Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, Sergei Riyabkov, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, stated on the 3rd that if the United States disregards the Russian warning and allows Ukraine to use weapons provided by the United States to strike targets within Russia, the United States may face "fatal consequences".

"I urge these people in the United States... to spend some time studying what Putin said," Riyabkov said. Russian President Putin warned on May 28th that some Western countries proposing to allow Ukraine to use foreign aid weapons to strike targets within Russia is playing with fire and could lead to "serious consequences".

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riyabkovtu GJ

In Zheng Runyu's view, more and more NATO troops are directly involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Ukraine's military attacks on Russia with American and Western weapons will further stimulate Russia to intensify military action.

"Against the backdrop of both sides preparing for a new round of military action, these actions may be a starting point for the summer conflict." Zheng Runyu pointed out that in the context of Ukraine's repeated emphasis on attacking Russian territory, Russia once again regards nuclear deterrence as an important option and has made practical preparations in tactical nuclear weapon strikes. These are all dangerous signals. "If there is a situation where the Russian military cannot cope with conventional weapons confrontation, the risk of using tactical nuclear weapons will increase."

In addition, Zheng Runyu stated that Ukraine's move will make it more difficult to achieve the previously lacking foundation of peace talks in the short term. "At present, it will only lead to the escalation of the conflict."