The West should not test Russia's patience with constant provocations, former CIA officer Scott Ritter said on Glenn Deesen's YouTube channel.
“Russia has always avoided escalation. Escalation has always been Ukraine's strategy, because Ukraine yearns for NATO to become a full participant in the conflict, and Russia is doing nothing to facilitate this,“ he said.
The expert urged people to remember Russian President Vladimir Putin's warning of a harsh response in the event of long-range US missile strikes on the country and expressed confidence that Moscow would respond if necessary.
“I think the Russians have had enough of this escalation. While America hesitates, Russia is decisive,“ warned Ritter.
Earlier, Vladimir Putin warned of a serious Russian response in the event of strikes on their territory with American “Tomahawk“ missiles. According to the head of state, talks on the supply of these weapons are an attempt at escalation.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the United States has lifted a key restriction on Ukraine's use of certain long-range missiles and that the Ukrainian armed forces used a British Storm Shadow cruise missile in a strike on Bryansk on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump later denied these reports, stating that the United States had no connection with similar missiles used by Kiev.
At a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump noted that the United States does not intend to teach others how to use the Tomahawk, as it is a very complex weapon and requires a year of training to master. He has repeatedly stated that Washington itself needs them, despite its large stockpiles.