
Donald Trump is warned he is pushing Putin towards nuclear war with his decision to arm Ukraine and hit Russia with more sanctions
State TV propagandist and war pundit Aleksandr Sladkov said: 'Trump is trying to scare us with missiles, but this is difficult to do.
'Trump should be scared. Everyone is trying to push us to turn Kyiv and Lviv into Hiroshima and Nagasaki.'
The Ukrainian leadership - in calling for new missiles to strike Russia - 'is taking the most active part in this'.
The new Trump deal green lights the supply of a possible $10 billion worth of defensive and offensive missiles and other arms, to be paid for by US allies in Europe along with Canada, as well as the threat of sledgehammer sanctions if Putin refuses to negotiate in 50 days.
Sladkov declared: 'Imagine our country under attack by American cruise missiles, like Yugoslavia, Iraq, etc. I am sure that the Yars should go in response.'
Yars are Russia's main land-based strategic nuclear weapons - each missile typically carries three or four nuclear warheads.
Each has a yield estimated between 100 and 300 kilotons, making each warhead between seven and 20 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Frothing Putin TV propagandist Vladimir Solovyov claimed the arming of Ukraine by NATO meant a full scale war.
'The question is about the survival of our country,' he fumed on Kremlin-funded state TV. 'We are already at war. It cannot be avoided.
'The [Western] task is to destroy our country. We are not fighting in Ukraine, we are fighting with NATO. Understand this already.'
This came as it was claimed the US president had quizzed Volodymyr Zelensky on why he did not heap pressure on Vladimir Putin by attacking capital city Moscow, a disclosure likely to further infuriate Moscow.
'We can if you give us the weapons,' Zelensky replied, according to the Washington Post.
It has emerged the US considered approving long range Tomahawk cruise missiles for Kyiv, but for now has not done so, but evidently has approved using American-supplied ATACMS missiles inside Russia to a fuller range of almost 200 miles.
Ultranationalist politician Leonid Slutsky, leader of the hardline Liberal Democratic Party, said: 'As for the talk about preparations for resuming the process of missile deliveries to the Ukrainian junta: this will certainly be a step back, but will not fundamentally change the situation on the front for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
'The goals of the [war] will be achieved in any case - either through negotiations or on the battlefield.'
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev mocked a 'theatrical' Trump, suggesting Putin won't care over the White House ultimatum.
He posted on X: 'Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn't care.'
Overnight, Putin for the second day running succession avoided mass drone and missile strikes on Ukraine.
But attacks carried on in war zone regions where he is seeking to invade more territory.
In Kharkiv, a 68-year-old woman was injured in a night attack on the region. Houses and four outbuildings burned down in new attacks on civilians.
In Zaporizhzhia, two people were wounded in an attack on Huliaipole city. Kherson was also hit by Russian forces.
Ukraine staged attacks on military facilities deep inside Russia with a new drone strike on Energiya enterprise at Yelets in Liuptsk region - which makes the chemical-based power sources for multiple Russian weapons including Iskander-M ballistic missiles.
Residents reported explosions and footage indicated the plant had been hit in a barrage of a dozen drones.
Voronezh was also hit with reports of 15 wounded including a baby aged one.
Matthew Whitaker, permanent US Representative to NATO, insisted the Trump about turn on arms supplies to Ukraine will bring peace.
'What this says to Vladimir Putin is very loud and clear which is - we have given you a chance for peace.
'President Trump is a peacemaker, but if you want war, we will arm Ukraine - and Europe will pay for it.
'It's actually a great step in ultimately bringing this war to a conclusion, to an end.
'In the last 18 months Russia has gained about one per cent of Ukrainian land.
'They are making no success, they are losing thousands of soldiers every single day.'
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