Ritter on Playing ‘Chicken’ with Russia

Aug. 26—Former weapons inspector Scott Ritter’s posting on X today throws some cold water on the hyperventilating over confronting Russia and ignoring all red lines:“Ukraine is threatening to strike Moscow and Saint Petersburg as a means of compelling Russia to the negotiating table. Russia has the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, which can carry either a nuclear or conventional warhead. The Avangard can be launched from a variety of missile platforms. It cannot be intercepted. The conventional warhead impacts its target at more than 27 times the speed of sound, creating the equivalent of more than 21 tons of high explosives prior to the actual warhead detonating.

“If Ukraine decides to strike Russia’s two largest cities, don’t be surprised when there is no Ukraine as a result. And if NATO facilitates such a strike, don’t be surprised when the Avangard arrives on European soil. Just pray it’s only a conventional warhead. There is no quicker way for the US and Europe to commit collective suicide than facilitate the insane actions of a madman. [Ukrainian dictator Volodymyr] Zelenskyy is a threat to the entire world.”