• The US is pursuing a war against Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged on Sunday as he commented on the US’ possible supplies of longer-range missiles to Ukraine. TASS
• Alleging that Washington controls the military actions of Kyiv, Lavrov said: “No matter what they say, they are managing this war, they are supplying weapons, ammunition, intelligence, satellite data — they are waging a war against us.” Sputnik International
• Lavrov’s comments come after four Republican senators urged Pres. Joe Biden to immediately send MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to the Ukrainian military. Ukrainska Pravda
• The senators argued that providing these systems with long-range missiles would augment Ukraine’s ability to attack key Russian targets, including cruise missile and drone launch sites, and “maximize the likelihood of success in its current counteroffensive and follow-on operations.” UKRINFORM
• Previously, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had stated that Kyiv was “actively working on obtaining ATACMS from the USA and Taurus from Germany,” adding, “There is progress on both tracks.” Al Arabiya English
• The US has committed more than $43B in military aid to Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022, including air defense systems, armored personnel carriers, and M1 Abrams tanks. RT (LR: 3 CP: 1)

Pro-Russia narrative:

• Providing Kyiv with long-range missiles or NATO’s military expansion in the Arctic undermines regional security and warrants countermeasures from Moscow. Russia is not a threat to anyone — the real threat emanates from the White House, which is trying to increase its security posture at the expense of upsetting the regional balance and prolonging the conflict.
  RT (LR: 3 CP: 1)

Pro-Ukraine narrative:

• Ukraine acquiring the long-range tactical ballistic missiles would equip Kyiv to strike key Russian command posts, formidable air defense systems, and high-value Russian military targets in occupied territory. It would also constrain Russian logistics — essential to helping Ukrainian troops break through Moscow’s defenses and push south toward the coast.
  Wall Street Journal (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Nerd narrative:

• There’s a 50% chance that the US will supply Ukraine with an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) no earlier than Jan. 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  Metaculus (LR: 3 CP: 3)