Putin Warns West Against Supplying Ukraine with Long-Range Missiles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to the West on Thursday, stating that any decision to supply Ukraine with Western-made long-range missiles would amount to direct involvement in the conflict, potentially escalating the war to unprecedented levels.

Putin emphasized that allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with such missiles, including the US ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, would necessitate NATO’s direct participation in targeting and programming the weapons. He cautioned that this would alter the nature of the conflict, effectively bringing NATO countries into direct military confrontation with Russia.

“This decision would signify direct involvement by the United States and European countries in the war in Ukraine, fundamentally changing the essence of the conflict,” Putin stated during an interview on Russian state TV. He hinted at potential “appropriate decisions” Russia might take in response but did not elaborate.

The warning comes amid ongoing discussions in the West regarding the provision of long-range weapons to Kyiv, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been advocating for to limit Moscow’s military capabilities.

As tensions rise, the global community watches closely, with concerns growing over the potential for further escalation in the ongoing conflict.