Mr. Medvedev warns the US

Mr. Medvedev said that the US was pushing the world towards a worse conflict by providing Abrams tanks and promising to transfer ATACMS missiles to Ukraine.

"It seems that Russia has very few options left but to confront NATO directly," Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram on September 26, after news broke that the US had transferred M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine.

Referring to the US commitment to provide the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine, Mr. Medvedev said that the US-led NATO "has turned into a fascist bloc" similar to the Axis powers in World War II. He declared that Russia is ready to confront NATO if necessary, adding that such a conflict would lead to devastating consequences.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on May 9. Photo: Reuters — Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on May 9. Photo: *Reuters*

"As a result, humanity will suffer much heavier losses than in 1945," the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council said, referring to the end of World War II.

On the same day, he announced that he had visited a shooting range near the front line in Donetsk, praising Russian soldiers there who "showed excellent fighting qualities, with steadfastness and determination towards victory".

Medvedev has repeatedly taken a hard line on relations with the West since the conflict in Ukraine broke out in February 2022. In September, he proposed suspending diplomatic relations with the European Union (EU) after the bloc backed a ban on Russian citizens bringing personal cars and mobile phones into the EU.

The deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council has also repeatedly warned of the possibility of a direct confrontation with NATO and the possibility of World War III if the bloc continues to supply weapons to Ukraine. He has repeatedly stated that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if necessary.

NBC News reported on September 22 that US President Joe Biden informed his Ukrainian counterpart that Washington would provide Kiev with ACTAMS, a 300-km-range missile that could help Ukraine strike targets deeper into Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine.

The White House and the Pentagon declined to comment on the report. Meanwhile, the Kremlin warned that the US was becoming more directly involved in the conflict, saying the Russian military would improve its capabilities and techniques to counter this type of missile.

Ngoc Anh (According to RT/AFP )

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