Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned at an Oct. 15 press briefing that any attempt to apply force or terror against Russia will not succeed. She stated: “To repeat what has been made clear many times, our country finds unacceptable the attempts to issue threats of terror or to speak to Russia haughtily from a position of strength.” She pointed out earlier that “In his video address on Oct. 8, Zelenskyy was quite clear about Kiev seeking escalation and plotting more terrorist attacks against our country….”
Zakharova was referring to the Oct. 8 evening webcast of acting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stating that after listening to a report by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) head Vasyl Maliuk, Zelenskyy had approved “some plans for the Service, our asymmetric responses to Russia’s war.” Kiev’s SBU has assassinated Russian military and security personnel inside Russia, including Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov in a Moscow bombing on Dec. 17, 2024.
She went on to warn: “Clearly, these plans have been drawn up with the possible supply of U.S.-made long-range Tomahawk missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in mind. Potential deliveries were discussed by President Trump and Zelenskyy during Oct. 11 and 12 telephone calls as reported by their respective press services.” On Oct. 12, U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy spoke by phone, with Trump raising the potential of sending Ukraine Tomahawk long-range missiles. He told reporters on Air Force One later that day: “I might say [to President Putin], ‘Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks.’ The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon. And honestly, Russia does not need that,” he was quoted as saying by Sky News.
