On Wednesday, the Kremlin condemned comments by outgoing NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg as “dangerous”, Reuters reports.
Stoltenberg had suggested that allowing Ukraine to use Western long-range missiles to strike Russian territory would not trigger an escalation from Moscow.
This stance contradicts Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent warnings that such actions would equate to direct Western involvement in the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been advocating for the use of Western long-range weapons, such as US ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, to curb Russia's capacity for attacks.
In an interview with The Times, Stoltenberg dismissed concerns that these weapons would provoke a direct confrontation with NATO.
Kremlin provoked
He argued that Putin had previously set red lines that did not lead to escalation and emphasized that NATO's military strength and nuclear deterrent made direct conflict unlikely.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized Stoltenberg's remarks as “extremely provocative and dangerous,” accusing him of failing to take Putin’s warnings seriously.
Peskov’s comments reflect broader Russian concerns over increased Western military support for Ukraine, which now includes advanced missiles, tanks, and F-16 fighter jets.
Strategic bluff?
As debates continue among Ukraine's allies about authorizing deeper strikes into Russian territory, Russian officials have hinted at potential nuclear responses.
The head of Russia's nuclear test site recently stated that the facility is prepared to resume tests if needed.
Ukrainian advances into Russian regions, such as Kursk, have reinforced the perception that there are no definitive "red lines," and some Western leaders view Putin’s nuclear threats as a strategic bluff.
