Mikhail Sheremet, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatened the United States, saying that Americans are "within the range" of Moscow's weapons.
Sheremet's comments come after Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Monday that the U.S. plans to continue providing aid to Ukraine amid its war with Russia.
Reed suggested that with additional funding, the Ukrainian army could continue its offensive attacks next year.
"Then next year, 2025, has to be again, another offensive operation, which hopefully gets them to the point where they really fully cover Crimea with fires," Reed said.
Crimea is the Ukrainian peninsula that was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Sheremet, a State Duma deputy who is a part of the ruling United Russia party, recently said: "Russia is ready to respond to any challenges, Russia has enough forces, means and capabilities, considering that today Russia is a high-tech and nuclear power," according to state media agency TASS.
The Russian politician attacked Reed, saying: "Let this senator come personally, he is a coward and a scoundrel, who will neither go himself nor send his children to the army, but will push other people to bloodshed."
Sheremet said Reed's statements were "irresponsible" and suggested that the senator be "added to the lists of criminals and terrorists."
"He is a threat to Americans themselves. He should remember that modern Russia is not a prey, Russia itself can defend and protect its interests. Both the U.S. and the territories that the senator himself represents are within the range of its weapons," the Putin ally warned.
He continued: "I am sure that the escalation of the situation and the construction of an unconstructive policy will have a very serious impact on the standard of living and further prosperity of the U.S. itself."
Newsweek reached out to Reed via email and the Russian government via an online form for comment.
It's been a little over two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv has put up a good fight against Moscow with the help of aid from the U.S. and its European allies. But U.S. support for the war has dwindled and additional Ukrainian aid has been stalled in Congress by Republicans.
U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told over 50 defense leaders from Europe and elsewhere: "The United States will not let Ukraine fail," during a meeting at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Tuesday. "This coalition will not let Ukraine fail. And the free world will not let Ukraine fail," Austin said.
The secretary's comments come a week after the White House announced that roughly $300 million in weapons would be sent to Ukraine after the Pentagon found some cost savings in its contracts. This is the first aid package that the Pentagon has been able to send to Ukraine since December 2023.
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