Kremlin Spox: Long-Range Missiles Will Cross "Red Line"

Per Reuters, Kremlin spox Maria Zakharova has told reporters that any move by the United States to supply Kyiv with long-range missiles will cross a "red-line" and make the US a "party to the conflict."

• The hawkish comments are likely in response to speculation that Washington may be considering changing tack on providing Kyiv with Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) - a missile system with a range of nearly 200 miles - capable of striking targets within Russian territory.
• The WSJ reported on Monday that Ukrainian military officials sent Washington a formal request to consider ATACMS in future shipments of arms to Kyiv.
• The Biden administration has previously ruled out supplying such systems due to fears that use by Ukraine could escalate the conflict.
• This week there has been speculation that the Pentagon may revaluate this position after a Ukrainian counterattack engendered optimism that more advanced weapons could hasten an end to the conflict. The success of the counterattack has been largely attributed to the increased use of US supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), a missile system that the Pentagon was initially hesitant to include in military aid packages to Kyiv.