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SOURCE: AFI

Indian defense veterans have expressed grave concerns over the United States’ decision to permit Ukraine to use long-range missiles such as ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) to strike deep within Russian territory. Speaking to Sputnik India, prominent experts warned that this move not only escalates the ongoing conflict but could also have catastrophic global implications.

Air Marshal (Retd) M Matheswaran highlighted the significant risks involved in this decision. He stated that Ukraine’s long-range missile strikes would not be feasible without extensive satellite data and technical assistance from Western nations.

“Biden’s decision sends a clear message: NATO is entering the war in a subtle manner,” Matheswaran said. He emphasized that the use of long-range weapons represents a massive escalation in the conflict, significantly diminishing the likelihood of peace negotiations.

Matheswaran warned of potential Russian retaliation if the threat of long-range strikes materializes. “If Russia responds with nuclear weapons, the consequences could be disastrous for the entire world,” he stated.

Major General (Retd) Shashi Bhushan Asthana also criticized the U.S. administration’s strategy, asserting that it risks sabotaging any potential peace efforts by a future Trump administration.

“Biden, having already lost the election, has little to lose and is pushing the fight against Russia until the last Ukrainian,” Asthana observed. He added that any escalation could drag the United States into direct hostilities with Russia, a situation fraught with immense danger for global stability.

Both veterans highlighted two critical miscalculations by the Biden administration:

  1. Disregarding Russian Warnings: President Putin has consistently warned against the use of NATO-guided long-range weapons in the conflict. Ignoring these warnings risks provoking a severe Russian response.
  2. Overestimating Battlefield Impact: While long-range missiles may provide Ukraine with temporary tactical advantages, they are unlikely to decisively alter the course of the conflict, given Russia’s robust defenses and retaliatory capabilities.

Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson echoed these concerns, asserting that the use of long-range missiles by Ukraine further underscores that the West is, in effect, at war with Russia.

The comments by Indian defense veterans and Western analysts reflect growing fears that the escalation of the Ukraine conflict could spiral into a global confrontation. The use of advanced weaponry by Ukraine, enabled by NATO support, raises the stakes in an already volatile situation.