Moscow warns that US missile authority could signal a new level of intervention in the conflict for Washington

LONDON — Russia will evaluate the White House’s permission to Ukraine US-made long-range weapons A Kremlin spokesman said on Monday that there would be a “qualitatively new wave of tension” within Russia between Moscow and Washington.

“Allowing Kiev to strike deep into Russia with US long-range missiles, if indeed allowed, would signal a qualitatively new wave of tensions and the level of Washington’s involvement in the Ukrainian conflict,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. in his daily briefing.

President Joe Biden has authorized the use of ATACMS weapons or Army Russia has a Tactical Missile System in the Kursk region, two US officials told ABC News on Sunday. The missiles have a range of approximately 190 miles.

Ukraine had not used weapons against Russian forces in Russia as of Monday morning, a senior defense official said.

Officials in Kiev, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have been calling for such weapons to be allowed to be used in Russia for months. Kyiv has previously used ATACMS for: Attack on Russian bases In occupied Ukraine.

However, although Zelenskyy requested permission to go to the White House for an official visit in September, the Biden administration backed down.

Peskov on Monday called the change in policy a “clear” signal that the Biden administration intends to “keep fueling the fire” in its final months.

He added that Moscow sees the move as a way for the White House to “continue to further escalate tensions around this conflict.”

ABC News’ Joe Simonetti, Lauren Minore, Shannon K. Kingston and Luis Martinez contributed to this report.