Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, head of the Liberal Democratic Party Leonid Slutsky said that the American side, having decided to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles, took a step in favor of further escalation, RIA Novosti reports. According to him, Washington went for it, although the Ukrainian side did not hide the desire to use such weapons for attacks on Russian territory.

“The Kyiv regime has been asking the United States for long-range HIMARS missiles for a long time, not hiding its intention to send them to Crimea and Russia. At the same time, the very decision to supply these missiles is already working for further escalation," Slutsky said.

As the State Duma deputy pointed out, this decision by the United States will also mark the transition to a "hotter phase" of confrontation.

Earlier, State Duma deputy Mikhail Sheremet said that American politicians should realize that jokes with Russia could turn out badly for the United States. According to him, if American weapons are used to attack Crimea, then Washington will also be held responsible.