Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a strong warning, indicating that Russia may find itself in direct conflict with NATO if Western leaders permit Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian territory. This announcement comes as discussions continue in Washington, where U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The central topic of these talks is likely to be Ukraine’s ongoing request to lift restrictions on its use of Western-supplied missiles.
Putin has labeled any potential NATO decision to allow Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia as an act of war. He emphasized that Moscow would respond with “appropriate decisions,” though he has refrained from providing specific details on what these actions might entail. This intensifies the already fragile situation between Russia and the West, with the conflict now in its third year.
Ukraine, under constant pressure from Russia’s military advances, has long asked for the ability to target deeper into Russian territory to halt further aggression. However, so far, Ukraine has only been allowed to use Western weapons, like the UK’s Storm Shadow missiles, within its own borders. These missiles, with a range of about 150 miles, are crucial for Ukraine’s defense, but they remain restricted from striking inside Russia. Similar limitations apply to French and U.S.-made missiles.
Although there is growing European support, especially from the UK, to lift these restrictions, the Biden administration has yet to make a final decision. President Biden has stated that the issue is still being considered, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to push for more aggressive military support. Reports indicate that Western leaders could reach a decision in the coming days.
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In response to these discussions, Russia has already taken diplomatic action. Moscow withdrew the accreditation of six British diplomats, accusing them of espionage. This move occurred just hours before Biden and Sunak’s planned meeting, signaling Russia’s heightened sensitivity to the potential shift in NATO’s stance on Ukraine.
While Putin has made similar threats in the past, warning of consequences if Western military support crosses certain boundaries, there has been little direct retaliation from Moscow thus far. However, the current situation remains tense, with the possibility of a broader conflict looming if the restrictions on missile usage are lifted.
The world now watches closely as the U.S. and its NATO allies deliberate on how best to support Ukraine without escalating the conflict further into a direct war with Russia. The coming weeks could prove critical in determining the future of the Ukraine conflict and NATO’s role in it.