Amid escalating tensions over the Ukraine conflict, Russia has urged the United States to halt a "spiral of escalation," while reiterating its commitment to keeping communication lines open to prevent critical errors.
The call for de-escalation follows Russia’s launch of a new intermediate-range hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, which it claims was a direct response to Ukraine's use of Western-supplied advanced missiles.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov criticized the U.S. for supplying Kyiv with weapons such as ATACMS ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have been used to strike Russian territory. He accused Washington of encouraging Ukraine’s "dangerous military adventures," warning of grave consequences if this continues.
“The U.S. administration must stop this spiral of escalation,” Ryabkov said, adding, “Otherwise, the situation could become too dangerous for everyone, including the United States itself.”
President Vladimir Putin recently confirmed that the launch of the Oreshnik was intended to send a strong message to the West, marking a significant development in the conflict. The missile reportedly reached speeds of 13,600 kph (8,450 mph), drawing condemnation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who described the act as a severe escalation and called for global denunciation.
Despite heightened tensions, Russia stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue to avoid miscalculations. Ryabkov noted that while Russia was not legally required to inform the U.S. about the missile launch, it voluntarily notified Washington 30 minutes before firing the Oreshnik.
“This act was a stabilizing measure in an otherwise volatile situation,” Ryabkov said. “We hope the U.S. remains committed to similar transparency to reduce risks of miscalculations or errors.”
In a related update, Russian officials announced ongoing efforts to ready the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile for deployment. Designed to deliver nuclear warheads over vast distances, the missile’s development has faced setbacks, including a reported catastrophic failure during a recent test.
Although the Kremlin portrays the Sarmat as a key component of its strategic arsenal, arms experts have raised questions about its reliability after evidence emerged of a deep crater left at its launch silo during the failed test.