Russia’s Foreign Ministry threatens ‘crushing’ response to NATO aid to Ukraine

The Information and Press Department of Russia’s Foreign Ministry has warned that Moscow will respond to aggressive actions against it “with all forces and means,” describing the response as “decisive and crushing for those who initiate it.”

The comment was made to the newspaper Izvestia in the context of NATO’s assistance to Ukraine.

The ministry also stated that the “reckless schemes” of Russia’s adversaries and their implementation would have “far-reaching consequences.” The Foreign Ministry stressed that Moscow reserves the right to respond to threats with all available forces and means.

The statement was prompted by events on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey. On July 8, the U.S. president, at a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, announced the transfer to Kyiv of a license to produce Patriot air defense systems.

The Russian side regards arms deliveries to Ukraine as an obstacle to resolving the conflict and as direct involvement of North Atlantic Alliance countries in the confrontation.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova called Zelensky’s hopes for NATO assistance unrealistic.