Russia warns Paris that Ukraine may hit French Embassy in Moscow if Kyiv gets nod to use long-range missiles

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) -Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned France on Wednesday that long-range missiles from Paris that were transferred to Ukraine may hit the French Embassy in Moscow.

Zakharova, at a news conference in Moscow, slammed a statement by French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu who said Monday that he ordered the transfer of at least 10 long-range Scalp missiles to Ukraine, and he hoped Kyiv would be able to carry out strikes with them "beyond the frontline," meaning in Russian territory.

"I would like to say this to Sebastien Lecornu: When the Kyiv regime strikes 'beyond the frontline,' let's hope it does not hit the French Embassy (in Moscow)," she said.

Zakharova noted other European officials have made efforts to persuade the US to authorize Ukraine to hit Russian territory with long-range missiles, specifically British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly plan to try to push US President Joe Biden to lift a ban before he ends his term in January.

She said it demonstrates that the West does not want peace but "intends to wage a hybrid war against Russia with Ukraine's hands."

The spokeswoman noted that media reports indicate Western-made missiles may be disguised as Ukrainians with the labels of the Western companies replaced with Ukrainians.

"This is a bloody cheating,” said Zakharova. “We understand perfectly that it would be impossible without supervisors' approval.”

"We would like to remind Washington, London, Paris and Brussels that they continue to play with fire. Russian President Vladimir Putin clearly said, ‘If Ukraine receives permission for the aforementioned strikes, we will regard this as the actual entry of NATO countries into a direct armed conflict with Russia," she stressed.

Zakharova added that it will change the essence and nature of the conflict with all its consequences. "The response to the use of Western long-range systems on the territory of our country will be inevitable and destructive for them," she added.