Adam Berry
Vladimir Putin has asserted that allowing Ukraine to use Western-made long-range missiles to target Russian territory could push the West into a direct conflict with Russia, fundamentally shifting the dynamics of the ongoing crisis.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has persistently urged NATO allies to permit the use of Western-manufactured missiles, such as the ATACMS produced by Lockheed Martin (LMT), for potential strikes on Russia.
“It is not merely about granting permission to the Ukrainian regime to launch attacks on Russia with these weapons,” Putin explained to the Russian newspaper Kommersant. “It hinges on the critical decision of whether NATO nations will actively engage in the military conflict or not.”
“Should this decision be made, it would signify nothing short of direct involvement of NATO nations, the U.S., and European countries in the Ukrainian war,” emphasized the Russian leader. “In such a scenario, we will take necessary measures in response to the imminent threats.
Concurrently, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a European tour in Poland, which endorsed Ukraine’s plea to relax restrictions on weaponry.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski affirmed, “As part of the Western coalition, we will persist in furnishing Ukraine with advanced air defense and antimissile defense systems. We are also prepared to lift prohibitions on the utilization of long-range weapons.”
“We will remain agile and make adjustments as required, particularly concerning the resources available to Ukraine to effectively counter Russian aggression,” Blinken assured.