‘Don’t play with fire’ – senior Russian MP to the West

The West is “playing with fire” through its actions in the Ukraine conflict, senior State Duma MP Leonid Slutsky has said, warning that Moscow’s military has the use of advanced weapons such as the new ‘Oreshnik’ hypersonic missile it fired this week.  

In a Telegram post on Thursday, Slutsky, who heads the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, cautioned that it is unwise to “provoke” Russia and accused the West of pushing the world towards a new “missile crisis” through its actions.    

“Given the presence of advanced weapons in the Russian Army, such as ‘Oreshnik’, it is better not to play with ‘fire’ and not even try to provoke!” Slutsky wrote.   

He cited a televised address by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, writing: “Putin again warns and urges not to doubt Russia’s determination and capabilities to repel aggression.”  

During his address from the Kremlin, Putin announced the deployment of the new ‘Oreshnik’ hypersonic missile system targeting Ukrainian territory, and criticized the US for exacerbating tensions.   

The president accused Washington and NATO of intentionally escalating the Ukraine conflict by supplying Kiev with long-range precision weaponry capable of striking internationally recognized Russian soil.   

This week, Ukraine used American-made ATACMS missiles and British Storm Shadow systems to strike targets in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions, which Putin described as proof of the West’s intention to broaden the scope of the conflict.  

Putin said such strikes could not occur without direct involvement from US and NATO military specialists, stating that “this regional conflict provoked by the West has now acquired global elements.”  

The Russian leader reiterated Moscow’s openness to peace talks, but cautioned that Russia is also “ready for any developments,” and that one should not doubt that “there will always be a response.”