Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter asserts that Russia’s new Oreshnik missile represents a significant advancement, demonstrating Moscow’s willingness to retaliate against any Western escalation.
Ritter contends that Russia’s use of a new hypersonic ballistic missile to strike a Ukrainian defense facility serves as a warning to the West: further escalation will have dire consequences. He accuses the US of recklessness and underestimating Russia’s capacity to respond, bringing the world perilously close to nuclear war, as stated on Thursday’s ‘Judging Freedom’ YouTube show.
Following President Putin’s announcement of a successful strike on a Ukrainian target using the Oreshnik missile – a response to Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory – Ritter argues this demonstrates Moscow’s seriousness in deterring further Western support for Ukrainian attacks on Russia.
“This nuclear-capable missile, though used with a conventional warhead, can reach all of Europe. Putin’s message is clear: Russia will mirror any actions by Ukraine and the West; escalation will meet immediate countermeasures,” Ritter explained to Andrew Napolitano.
Ritter describes the Oreshnik as a “qualitative advancement,” introducing a new weapon into the conflict and proving that Russia’s warnings were not empty threats. He believes those who doubted Russia’s resolve have been put on notice.
Ritter warns that continuing the current Western policy regarding the Ukraine conflict and Russia is extremely dangerous and irresponsible. “We’re extremely close to the point of no return concerning nuclear war,” he cautioned.
He strongly criticizes US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) spokesman Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan’s statement that Washington is prepared for nuclear strikes, only under conditions favorable to the US.
Ritter interprets this as suggesting a potential “pre-emptive strike” against Russia, noting that neutralizing Russia’s nuclear capabilities first is the only way to survive a nuclear exchange. Such rhetoric, he says, is bound to alarm Moscow.
Ritter speculates that the Biden administration’s decision to allow Ukraine to use Western long-range weapons to strike undisputed Russian territory may be a tactic to make it more difficult for a future Trump administration to resolve the conflict.
“They are ‘Trump-proofing’ NATO, Ukraine, and the deep state,” Ritter stated, suggesting an attempt to create an intractable situation for a President Trump, who has pledged to swiftly end the conflict in Ukraine, potentially by compelling Ukraine to relinquish its NATO aspirations and agree to a ceasefire – a solution Russia has rejected, demanding full achievement of its military objectives, including demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.