The Bottom Line Upfront

The Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned the American ambassador to protest against a Ukrainian missile attack on Russian-annexed Crimea, which resulted in four deaths and over 150 injuries.

Following the attack, the Russian government has directly blamed the United States and has vowed retaliation.

The Breakdown

  • Russia asserts that Washington is now effectively siding with Ukraine by supplying advanced missiles for such attacks and warns of potential retaliatory measures.
  • This escalation severely heightens already tense relations between two global superpowers, potentially leading to broader geopolitical repercussions.
  • Kyiv's forces are increasingly relied on Western-supplied weapons since the invasion.
  • The Pentagon recently allowed Ukraine to use longer-range missiles from the U.S.