Russia may strike supply lines in Poland because of the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine. Neil Melvin, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, stated this in an interview with the Daily Express newspaper.
“Russia may try to strike supply lines in NATO territory. For example, on bases in Poland. It is definitely a risk,” he said.
According to the expert, the Russian side is stepping up efforts to disrupt the supply of equipment to Ukrainian territory. The situation in Ukraine could escalate into a global conflict if Western arms supplies to Kyiv continue, Melvin added.
On May 27, the Czech Defense Ministry Yana Chernokhova said that there was no agreement among NATO member countries that heavy military equipment would not be supplied to Ukraine. The Czech Republic would not have supported this agreement if it had taken place, she specified.
Prior to this, on May 23, after a meeting of the contact group of countries to provide military assistance to Kyiv, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that Denmark would transfer Harpoon anti-ship missiles and a launcher to them to Ukraine. According to him, about 20 countries have announced new packages of military assistance to the Ukrainian side. He specified that among them were Italy, Greece, Norway, Poland and others.
In addition, Germany indicated on May 20 that the country plans to deliver the first 15 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine in July.
Meanwhile, the head of the Committee of National Staffs of the US Armed Forces, Mark Milley, during a speech at West Point Academy, said that the risk of conflict between world powers is growing.
A similar position was expressed on May 20 by American expert Douglas McGregor. He noted that the events around Ukraine could lead to a large-scale conflict due to US actions.
On May 9, a rally was held in Prague against the supply of arms by the Czech Republic to Ukraine. Approximately 600 protesters attended the rally. The protesters accused the United States and NATO of the conflict over Ukraine, and also noted that, saying that the Russian special operation in the Donbass was not provoked, the authorities were deceiving the people.
On April 22, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted the insolvency and inability to negotiate the West, which are becoming more and more obvious to all regions of the world.
At the end of February, Russia launched a special operation to protect Donbass. A few days earlier, the situation in the region escalated significantly due to shelling by the Ukrainian military. The authorities of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics announced the evacuation of residents to the Russian Federation, and also turned to Moscow for help. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the DNR and LNR.