President Vladimir Putin has warned the West against allowing Ukraine to use Western-made long-range missiles to strike Russian territory in the ongoing conflict. He stated that this would directly involve NATO countries in the war and significantly change its nature. Putin emphasized that the satellite targeting data and programming of the missiles would have to be done by NATO military personnel, as Ukraine lacks the capabilities to do so itself. He did not specify how Russia would respond to this potential threat, but has previously talked about arming enemies of the West with Russian weapons and deploying conventional missiles near Western allies.
In response to Putin’s warnings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been urging Kyiv’s allies to allow Ukraine to use Western missiles to limit Moscow’s attacks. This comes amidst escalating tensions between Russia and the West, with the conflict in Ukraine being the biggest confrontation since the Cold War. The West accuses Russia of receiving ballistic missiles from Iran, a claim that Tehran has denied as “ugly propaganda.” Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, seizing over 18% of Ukrainian territory.
Putin views the conflict as an existential battle with a declining and decadent West, framing it as a response to perceived encroachments on what he considers Russia’s sphere of influence, including Ukraine. He alleges that the West humiliated Russia after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. In response, the West and Ukraine see the invasion as an imperial-style land grab and have vowed to defeat Russia on the battlefield. The ongoing conflict has stirred up discussions within the West about whether to allow Ukraine to use its long-range weapons to strike Russia.
As tensions escalate, Russia is considering revising its nuclear doctrine to include using nuclear weapons against countries that support NATO aggression in Ukraine. Putin is under pressure from foreign policy hawks to make this change. Additionally, Russia is currently conducting major naval exercises with China and is contemplating restrictions on major commodity exports. These developments underscore the complexity and severity of the conflict, which has wide-ranging implications for global security and stability.
The possibility of Ukraine using Western long-range missiles to strike Russia raises the specter of greater involvement by NATO countries in the war. Putin has issued a stark warning that allowing this would fundamentally alter the conflict and draw Western powers directly into the fray. The decision on whether to grant Ukraine this capability is fraught with geopolitical ramifications and could potentially lead to further escalation. Both sides are engaged in a high-stakes game of brinkmanship, with the potential for catastrophic consequences if cooler heads do not prevail. The delicate balance of power in the region hangs in the balance, as the international community monitors developments closely.
