Russia's foreign ministry warned the United States on Thursday that if it ships sophisticated Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, Moscow would consider it a "provocative move" that could prompt a response from the Kremlin.
Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that U.S. deployment of Patriot missiles to combat Russian airstrikes would represent an escalation in the U.S. role in helping the Kyiv government fend off Russia's 10-month war and "could entail possible consequences."