Lagatar24 Desk
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to Western nations on Thursday, stating that the provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine would lead to the direct involvement of NATO countries in the ongoing war. Putin’s remarks, among his most hawkish on the subject, were made as he cautioned that allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with Western-made missiles would fundamentally alter the nature of the conflict.
Ukraine has been urging its Western allies for months to supply advanced long-range missiles, such as the U.S.-made ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, to target key Russian positions and limit Moscow’s capacity to launch further attacks. However, Putin warned that such a move would require NATO military personnel to assist Ukraine in missile targeting and programming, thus dragging Western countries into direct confrontation with Russia.
“This is not just about giving Ukraine the capacity to strike Russian targets,” Putin said on Russian state TV. “If this decision is taken, it will mean NATO countries, including the U.S. and European nations, are directly participating in the war. This would significantly change the essence and nature of the conflict.”
While Putin did not specify what Russia’s response would be, he alluded to “appropriate decisions” that Moscow could take in response to this new threat. In the past, Putin has suggested arming Western adversaries with Russian weapons and hinted at deploying missiles within striking distance of Western targets.
Russia, the largest nuclear power globally, is also reviewing its nuclear doctrine. Discussions are underway to modify the conditions under which Moscow might use nuclear weapons, particularly if NATO is perceived as further escalating the war in Ukraine.
Currently, Russia is conducting large-scale naval exercises with China and considering imposing restrictions on major commodity exports as part of its geopolitical strategy.
Meanwhile, the West frames its debate over whether to supply Ukraine with long-range weapons as a response to what it sees as Russian escalation, pointing to reports of Moscow receiving ballistic missiles from Iran. Tehran has denied these claims, calling them “ugly propaganda.”
The conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has marked the most significant confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War. Putin has consistently portrayed the war as part of an existential struggle with a declining West, which he accuses of encroaching on Russia’s sphere of influence since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
The West and Ukraine, however, view Russia’s actions as an imperialist attempt to seize territory, with Ukraine and its allies determined to defeat Russia on the battlefield. Currently, Russia controls over 18% of Ukrainian territory.
