Putin warns Ukraine use of long-range arms will put NATO at war with Russia
Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has called on partner nations to remove limitations on Western-provided weapons, enabling strikes deep within Russian territory.
President Vladimir Putin has issued a caution, stating that if Western countries permit Ukraine to deploy long-range weapons to target areas within Russia, it would signify that NATO is effectively "at war" with Russia.
"This would fundamentally alter the character of the conflict. It would imply that NATO nations, including the US and European countries, are engaged in warfare with Russia," Putin stated in an interview with Russian state television on Thursday.
"If this is the case, then considering the shift in the nature of this conflict, we will take the necessary steps according to the new threats that arise," he stated.
His remarks were made before a meeting set for Friday in Washington, DC, where British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet with US President Joe Biden. They are likely to talk about the possibility of allowing Ukraine to hit targets within Russia, as worries about Ukraine's losses on the battlefield continue to grow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently urged for the removal of limitations on long-range weapons provided by Western nations. He believes that this would enable his military to strike airbases, ammo storage sites, and command hubs deep within Russian territory, ultimately raising the costs of the invasion for Moscow.
While traveling to the US, Starmer told reporters, “Russia initiated this conflict by unlawfully invading Ukraine. Russia has the power to resolve this situation immediately. Ukraine has the right to defend itself,” as reported by British media.
This meeting is expected to be the final one between the US and UK leaders before Biden's term ends and just before the presidential election in November, where Democrat Kamala Harris will face off against Republican Donald Trump.
During a debate with Harris this week, Trump consistently avoided taking a stance on the conflict that began with Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He simply stated, "I want the war to end."
Biden mentioned that he was "addressing" Ukraine's appeal while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy conducted an uncommon joint trip to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, where they revealed an extra $1.5 billion in support.
On Thursday, Blinken concluded a European tour that focused on Ukraine, which included visits to three countries, with his final stop in Poland. During the trip, he listened to numerous requests from Ukrainian officials urging the use of Western-provided weapons for long-range attacks within Russia.
“At a news conference in Warsaw, Blinken remarked that, as Russia's actions and the situation on the battlefield have evolved, we have adjusted our approach.”
Biden has permitted Ukraine to launch US-supplied missiles into Russia for self-defense, but he has mostly restricted how far these missiles can be fired.
One of the main demands from Ukraine is to launch attacks using the US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).
However, the Pentagon has stated that these weapons will not address the primary danger Ukraine is dealing with from long-range Russian glide bombs, which can be launched from distances exceeding 300 kilometers (186 miles), well beyond the range of the ATACMS.
On Friday, Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland—a NATO member that borders Ukraine—stated that he isn’t concerned about what Putin said.
"It’s crucial to approach all developments in Ukraine and the Ukrainian-Russian front with seriousness, but I wouldn’t overvalue the recent comments made by President Putin," Tusk stated during a press conference.
"They instead highlight the challenging circumstances that the Russians face at the front lines."
Polish Foreign Minister Radowslaw Sikorski earlier stated that Kyiv should be permitted to utilize Western arms for self-defense, arguing that “Russia is carrying out war crimes by targeting civilian sites.”
"According to Sikorski, the missiles striking these civilian locations are launched by bomber planes operating from Russian territory. These aircraft depart from airbases located within Russia."
Russian troops have intensified their efforts in the conflict zone of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine and have stepped up aerial assaults throughout the nation.
Ukraine continued its assaults in the Kursk region of western Russia after launching an unexpected cross-border operation on August 6. However, on Thursday, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Russian forces were launching a counteroffensive.
Al Jazeera and various news organizations
