Russia has delivered a grave warning to the West, asserting that permitting Ukraine to use long-range missiles could bring NATO into a direct confrontation with Moscow. This comes as U.S. and U.K. officials discuss Ukraine’s ongoing pleas to ease restrictions on deploying Western-supplied long-range weapons into Russian territory.
For months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been asking his Western allies for long-range U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, which could enable strikes deep within Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response, has declared that any such move would force Russia to make “appropriate decisions” and escalate the conflict further, potentially drawing NATO directly into the war. Putin described the possibility as chilling, hinting at serious consequences.
Putin’s comments follow U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to Kyiv, where he assured that the U.S. is reviewing Ukraine’s requests for advanced weapons and promised to “adjust and adapt as needed.” However, the Pentagon has made it clear that restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons remain in place for now, despite these discussions. A Pentagon spokesperson also denounced Putin’s rhetoric, calling it “irresponsible” and “dangerous.”
“This kind of nuclear saber-rattling is reckless and dangerous,” the spokesperson stated. “We have not seen anything that requires us to adjust our strategic force posture at this point, but we are monitoring the situation closely.”
As tensions rise, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House to discuss Ukraine’s request for long-range missiles. Starmer, responding to Putin’s threats, underscored that Russia started the war and could end it at any time.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is continuing its offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, though Zelensky admitted that Russian forces are mounting a counteroffensive. At a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky acknowledged the challenges but affirmed that Ukraine’s military actions are progressing in line with their strategy.
