Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to the West on Tuesday, cautioning that allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike inside Russia could ignite a global conflict. This comes as NATO members in Europe consider enabling Ukraine to launch deeper strikes into Russian territory amid ongoing Russian military advances.
More than two years after the start of the war, Putin is increasingly emphasizing the risk of a global war. Although Western leaders often declare their readiness for a tougher policy on the issues of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, they are still afraid of escalation, so they act hesitantly. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg suggested that alliance members should permit Ukraine to strike deep into Russia using Western weapons. This view is supported by some European NATO members but not by the United States.
“Constant escalation can lead to serious consequences,” Putin warned reporters in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. “If these serious consequences occur in Europe, how will the United States behave, bearing in mind our parity in the field of strategic weapons? It’s hard to say – do they want a global conflict?”
Putin stressed that Ukrainian strikes with long-range weapons would necessitate Western satellite, intelligence, and military assistance, effectively involving the West directly in such attacks. He also cautioned that sending French troops to Ukraine would escalate towards a global conflict, and smaller countries considering deeper involvement should be aware of the risks due to their smaller land areas and dense populations.
“This is a factor that they should keep in mind before talking about striking deep into Russian territory. This is a serious thing, and we are of course watching it very closely,” Putin said.
Russian officials claim that Moscow’s patience is waning following Ukrainian attacks on Russian cities, oil refineries, and elements of its nuclear early-warning system. Putin argued that Kyiv and its Western supporters provoked Russia’s offensive in the Kharkiv region by ignoring repeated warnings against allowing Ukraine to attack the adjacent Russian region of Belgorod.
