Russia has issued a sharp warning to NATO, claiming that allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles could pull the alliance directly into the war. The warning comes as U.S. and U.K. officials discuss Ukraine’s ongoing request to ease restrictions on using Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike deep inside Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been urging allies for months to provide access to U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles. These weapons, with their extended range, could potentially change the battlefield dynamics by targeting Russian military assets far from the frontlines. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned that if such weapons are used, Russia would view it as an act of war by NATO itself, forcing Moscow to take retaliatory steps.
Putin’s warning came shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Kyiv, where he suggested that Washington is open to reconsidering Ukraine’s military needs. Blinken emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to “adjust and adapt” as the war evolves, but the Pentagon has made it clear that current restrictions on the use of U.S.-supplied long-range weapons still stand. Pentagon officials condemned Putin’s remarks, labeling them “reckless” and “irresponsible.”
“This type of nuclear saber-rattling is not new, but it remains dangerous,” a Pentagon spokesperson said. “While we are closely monitoring the situation, there’s no indication at this point that we need to change our strategic posture.”
U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to discuss Ukraine’s request for long-range missile capabilities during an upcoming meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In response to Putin’s latest threats, Starmer reiterated that Russia alone is responsible for starting the war and that it has the power to end it.
Despite the international tension, Ukrainian forces continue their military operations in Russia’s Kursk region. Zelensky acknowledged that Russian forces are launching counterattacks but maintained that Ukraine’s operations are progressing as planned.
