Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued another stern warning to NATO over the potential of Ukraine utilizing Western long-range missiles to strike Russian territory.
Preparing a Response
Putin's comments come as NATO allies continue to discuss whether to approve Ukraine’s requests for long-range weapons that could reach far inside Russia.
According to Putin, if NATO consents to such strikes, it would lead to a direct escalation and could mean open conflict between Russia and NATO, fundamentally altering the dynamics of the current war.
In recent statements, Putin disclosed that Russian military leadership is already preparing response plans for such an eventuality, should Ukraine receive and use these weapons. He emphasized that while Russia’s exact course of action remains undetermined, it would be more than a diplomatic protest.
“Our military command is thinking about it and will propose various options for response,” Putin said, underscoring the gravity of the potential escalation, according to SE.
He also hinted that Western leaders should take Russia’s position seriously, adding, “I hope they heard. Because of course, we will have to make some decisions on our side as well.”
Not given Permission
Putin first issued a public warning about this scenario in September, asserting that NATO’s authorization of Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil would equate to NATO entering the war on Ukraine's side.
The use of Western long-range weapons could prompt Russia to interpret this as a direct involvement of NATO countries in the conflict.
So far, NATO members have provided Ukraine with powerful French-British and American ATACMS missiles, which have been deployed in strikes on Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
However, Western allies have refrained from extending that permission to targets within Russia's internationally recognized borders.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged for the capacity to strike deeper into Russian territory, the West has remained cautious, likely to avoid the prospect of direct conflict with Moscow.
For now, the debate on Western long-range weapon use continues, but Putin's most recent warning suggests that the Kremlin is bracing for any shift in policy that might change the boundaries of this ongoing conflict.
