Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov: Putin sent several signals with the "Oreshnik" strike.

“But this primarily signals that we are demonstrating our determination to respond to provocations and escalating actions by the Western sponsors of the Kyiv regime in a way that makes them understand the seriousness of the moment and our ability to find military responses to new challenges,” said the Deputy Foreign Minister in an interview with “Izvestia”.

Mr. Ryabkov added that Vladimir Putin's address following the use of the “Oreshnik” is a warning to those wishing for Russia's strategic defeat to cease raising the stakes. “It is high time for the West to stop,” emphasized the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia.

Mr. Ryabkov urged the West to halt these actions, stressing that the lack of changes indicates a declining level of responsibility among the leadership of Western countries. He noted that the situation reflects a “gradual dulling of the sense of self-preservation” among decision-makers in the West.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia stated a principled position against using the term “red lines” in discussions on security issues. According to him, this could become a subject for speculation and a tool for manipulation.

On November 21, Vladimir Putin, in a special statement, reported that Russian military forces struck the Ukrainian defense enterprise “Yuzhmash” with the latest medium-range missile system “Oreshnik.” Shortly before this, Ukraine attacked Russian territory outside the annexed regions and Crimea for the first time using Western long-range missiles — American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow.

For details on how the meeting between Putin, the Ministry of Defense, and representatives of the defense industry proceeded after the launch of the “Oreshnik,” see the article by special correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov.