A Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated that Moscow is prepared for contact with the U.S. regarding the issue, but only if there are any initiatives from the American side. Russia dismissed a warning by the United States about Moscow’s new anti-satellite capability, which the U.S. claimed could threaten critical civil and military infrastructure, calling it a political ruse.
According to Peskov, the warning is intended to push the U.S. Congress into approving more aid for Ukraine. He suggested that the White House is trying to manipulate Congress by creating urgency to vote on a bill to allocate money. Kremlin officials, Peskov and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, spoke out against the reports. Peskov commented that Moscow is monitoring what is being said on the subject, and is ready for contact with the U.S. if there are any initiatives from the American side. Meanwhile, Ryabkov dismissed the reports as “malicious stories” and stated that the Americans are making up stories to ascribe to Russia intentions that they don’t like.
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee Chair, Mike Turner, issued a cryptic statement on Feb. 14 announcing that the panel had “information concerning a serious national security threat.” White House national security spokesman John Kirby reported that the threat stemmed from Russia’s pursuit of a new anti-satellite capability, but there was no immediate threat to the U.S. population.
He also mentioned that the Kremlin’s new weapon system is not intended to be used against people on the ground, and that Russia has been aware of the development of the capability for “many months, if not a few years.” An analyst noted that it is more likely to be a nuclear-powered device to disrupt satellites than an explosive nuclear warhead.
Experts have long warned that China and Russia are seeking to disrupt the United States’ strategic advantage by disrupting space-based infrastructure. Currently, Russia is prohibited from deploying weapons of mass destruction into space. However, Moscow has suggested that it may consider American commercial satellites assisting Ukraine to be legitimate targets for military strikes.