If Russia's use of an intercontinental missile on Ukraine were to be confirmed, French diplomacy declares that it would be “extremely serious”.
Ukraine accused Moscow of having fired an intercontinental missile on its country this Thursday, November 21. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson Christophe Lemoine, judges that this use would be “extremely serious” if it were to be confirmed.
“It is obvious that if this shot were confirmed, it would be an extremely serious event and it would above all be a continuation of Russia's escalatory attitude,” indicated Christophe Lemoine, while emphasizing that At this stage, France had “not had confirmation” of such a shot.
The use of this type of weaponry during a conflict would be a first in history. This weapon belongs to the nuclear deterrent arsenal. Its use has not been denied by Russia, which for several days has been using increasingly belligerent rhetoric, evoking atomic weapons due to Ukraine's use of American missiles against Russian territory.
“A crazy neighbor”
“I have nothing to say on this topic,” replied the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov, when questioned by the media during a daily briefing. The spokesperson for Russian diplomacy, for her part, was ordered live during a televised press conference not to say anything on this subject.
“An intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Russian region of Astrakhan,” the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement this morning.
The Ukrainian city of Dnipro, in east-central Ukraine, was targeted. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that assessments were still underway, but that the shot had “the characteristics” of an intercontinental missile. He also called Russia a “crazy neighbor” using Ukraine as a military “testing ground.”
These missiles, which have never been used in conflict but which Russia regularly tests on its territory, are designed to carry nuclear warheads and strike thousands of kilometers away.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson declared that an intercontinental missile launch by Russia on Ukraine would be “irresponsible” and would mark “an escalation” on the part of Moscow.
“The information coming from Ukraine is deeply worrying (…) If it were true, it would be a new example of immoral, irresponsible behavior, which would mark an escalation on the part of Russia,” indicated the door -speaking to journalists.
