Putin threatens West with war if Ukraine uses Western-supplied long-range missiles on Russia
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said if the West should allow Ukraine to strike Russian territory with Western-made long-range missiles, he would consider it as direct initiation of war by the West on his country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been pleading with his Western allies for months to let Ukraine fire Western missiles including long-range U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadows deep into Russian territory to limit Moscow’s ability to launch attacks.
In some of his most hawkish comments on the subject yet, Putin said such a move would drag the countries supplying Kyiv with long-range missiles directly into the war since satellite targeting data and the actual programming of the missiles’ flight paths would have to be done by NATO military personnel because Kyiv did not have the capabilities itself.
“So, this is not a question of allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not. It is a question of deciding whether or not NATO countries are directly involved in a military conflict,” Putin told Russian state TV.
“If this decision is taken, it will mean nothing less than the direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States and European countries in the war in Ukraine. This will be their direct participation, and this, of course, will significantly change the very essence, the very nature of the conflict.”
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Putin’s assertion that the West would be fighting directly with Russia if Ukraine were permitted to use long-range missiles reflects ongoing tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and Western nations.
This statement is rooted in the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the conflict that began in 2014 and escalated significantly with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Long-range missiles are capable of striking targets at significant distances, which can alter the strategic balance in a conflict. In the context of the Ukraine war, if Kyiv were to acquire such capabilities, it could potentially target Russian military installations or supply lines deep within occupied territories or even within Russia itself. This prospect raises concerns for Moscow about its security and military posture.
The West has been providing various forms of support to Ukraine, including military aid. The introduction of long-range missile systems could be seen as a significant escalation by Russia. Putin’s warning suggests that he views this potential development as a direct threat not only to Russian forces but also as an act of aggression by NATO countries supporting Ukraine.
Putin’s statement implies that allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles would cross a red line, leading to direct confrontation between Russian forces and Western nations. Historically, both sides have been cautious about escalating their involvement in the conflict due to fears of broader war. However, Putin’s rhetoric indicates a willingness to frame any increase in Ukrainian military capability as justification for further military action or retaliation against Western nations.
