January 15, 2026 l By Stephen — Dalena Reporters
MOSCOW — The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday criticised the United Kingdom’s proposal to assist Ukraine in developing a new ground-launched ballistic missile system, asserting that the initiative does not advance prospects for peace and instead threatens to further escalate the long-running conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.
The plan, spearheaded by London, involves helping Kyiv rapidly develop and deploy a ballistic missile dubbed “Nightfall” that is intended to bolster Ukrainian long-range strike capabilities against Russian military positions. The United Kingdom and other Western partners have framed the project as part of broader efforts to support Ukraine’s defence against Moscow’s prolonged invasion a war that began in February 2022.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the initiative in a media briefing, saying that supplying advanced weapon systems to Ukraine will only deepen violence and undermine diplomatic solutions. She emphasised that genuine peace requires dialogue and negotiation rather than heightened armaments, framing Western military aid as self-defeating.
The development highlights persistent fissures in global responses to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has drawn sustained military, economic and political support for Kyiv from NATO members while prompting fierce denunciations from Moscow and its allies. Russia has repeatedly asserted that external weapons deliveries prolong warfare and inflame tensions on the European continent a stance that resonates with its long-standing opposition to Western military assistance programs.
Critics of the British plan including several European political analysts share concerns that escalating long-range capabilities, such as ballistic missiles, could destabilise existing ceasefires and increase civilian risk in contested areas. Supporters of the initiative argue, however, that enhanced Ukrainian deterrence is essential to counter Russia’s entrenched frontline positions and strategic depth.
The controversy underscores the broader challenge facing Western allies: balancing military assistance with efforts to create conditions conducive to negotiation and conflict resolution between Kyiv and Moscow. As debates intensify in capitals from London to Washington to Berlin, the evolution of weapons programs like “Nightfall” will remain a key flashpoint in diplomatic and defence circles throughout 2026.
Russia’s response to the UK-Ukraine missile initiative comes amid continued global concern over European security dynamics, signalling that major powers remain at odds over how best to manage and ultimately resolve the protracted conflict.