US presidential envoy Dan Driscoll has warned European allies that Russia is stockpiling missiles that could be used not only against Ukraine but also beyond its borders, the “New York Times“ reports, citing Western diplomats, News.bg reports.
According to the publication, Driscoll used this growing threat as an argument in support of the need to quickly sign a peace agreement between Kiev and Moscow.
In recent days, the US envoy has held meetings in Ukraine, Geneva and Abu Dhabi, where he presented the US peace plan. Its initial version, published by several media outlets, contained conditions deemed unacceptable to Ukraine and was generally closer to Russia's positions.
After consultations with American and European representatives, the plan was adjusted. Its official content has not yet been made public, but according to a number of publications, the updated version now takes into account Ukraine's interests to a greater extent, with the most controversial issues left to be resolved at the level of the presidents of the United States and Ukraine.
As the NYT notes, Driscoll's statements about the Russian missile stockpiles are intended to emphasize that “a solution must be found quickly, as the missile threat is growing and could have devastating consequences for Ukraine and beyond“. European diplomats have taken the warning as extremely serious.
At the same time, the publication also indicates conflicting assessments regarding the real scale of Russian missile production. Last summer, reports emerged that Moscow was using newly manufactured missiles to strike Ukraine, casting doubt on its ability to build up large stockpiles. The July 2024 attack on a children's hospital used a missile that had been manufactured just a few months earlier.
On the other hand, according to Ukrainian military intelligence, as of June this year, Russia had increased its production of cruise and ballistic missiles to about 2,900 per year.
The Ukrainian Air Force has reported a gradual increase in the number of missile strikes. According to the “New York Times“ in 2024, the Russian army launched 2,061 missiles, and this year the number is expected to increase.
Fabian Hofmann, an expert at the University of Oslo, believes that “production volumes do not fully correspond to the number of launches“, which means that Russia is likely stockpiling missiles. He also expresses particular concern about the depletion of Ukrainian air defense assets.
Hoffman also warns that Russia will not stop producing missiles even in the event of a pause in hostilities or after the end of the war. “If Russia emerges victorious from this conflict, it may feel emboldened to pursue new adventures and accumulate huge stocks of long-range weapons,“ the expert points out.