Russia’s outgoing ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, issued a stark warning regarding the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Russia, tied to the war in Ukraine.
He emphasized the grave consequences of allowing Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike Russian territory.
Antonov predicted a dangerous spiral, potentially leading to a nuclear confrontation, if the U.S. greenlights these missile strikes.
US-Russian Relations at a Breaking Point
Antonov’s warning comes amid deteriorating U.S.-Russian relations, which he described as being at their “lowest point in history.”
He cautioned that any decision to allow Ukrainian forces to strike deep into Russian territory would trigger an “uncontrolled nosedive” in the already fragile ties between the two nuclear superpowers.
Antonov underscored that this conflict is no longer just a regional war, warning that the U.S. could not “sit it out across the ocean,” as a global nuclear catastrophe would impact everyone.
Ukraine’s Push for Long-Range Missiles
During a recent meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden, Zelensky advocated for using U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles to penetrate deep into Russian-held areas.
Zelensky believes that this could shift the momentum in the ongoing war, which has now lasted over two years.
However, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin warned that such action would mark direct NATO involvement, significantly raising the stakes.
Russia’s Perspective: A War with No End in Sight
Antonov painted a grim picture of the current state of the war, emphasizing how Ukraine’s demands for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Crimea and Donbas, alongside Russia’s insistence on Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions, have kept peace talks at a standstill.
Putin’s government views Ukraine’s efforts as part of a broader Western strategy to encircle Russia with hostile forces, and Antonov accused the West of continuously rejecting Moscow’s attempts at cooperation.
The Long-Term Impact on US-Russian Relations
In a broader assessment, Antonov criticized the U.S. and its NATO allies for militarily exploiting Europe and orchestrating revolutions to remove pro-Russian governments since the Cold War.
He suggested that Washington’s strategic aim has been not only to weaken Russia but to preserve a global order favorable to NATO countries.
As he departed his post after seven years, Antonov voiced little hope for future U.S.-Russian relations, lamenting the deep divide and the growing influence of “Russophobic” elements in American politics.
America’s Role and Responsibility
The ambassador’s closing remarks highlighted his frustration with American media and political discourse, which he claimed had silenced pro-Russian voices.
He also voiced anger at what he described as a “brutal cleansing” of dissenting opinions in the U.S., leaving the public with a one-sided, anti-Russian narrative.
Antonov’s parting message to Washington was clear: the current trajectory of U.S. policy is leading both nations toward an abyss, and only a dramatic shift could prevent relations from worsening further.
Conclusion: Is There a Way Out?
With both sides firmly entrenched in their positions, Antonov’s grim outlook underscores the potential for the conflict to spiral further out of control.
As long as Ukraine continues its push for NATO membership and the West remains steadfast in supporting Kyiv, any peaceful resolution seems increasingly distant.
Antonov left the U.S. with a warning: without a significant change in approach, the two countries risk plunging into a dangerously uncharted territory, where nuclear conflict is no longer a distant fear but a real possibility.