Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning that Russia could deploy conventional missiles within striking distance of the United States and its European allies if they permit Ukraine to attack deeper into Russian territory using long-range Western weapons. In his first face-to-face meeting with senior editors of international news agencies since the onset of the Ukraine war, Putin emphasized that the West’s assumption that Russia would never use nuclear weapons is mistaken and urged them to take the Kremlin’s nuclear doctrine seriously. During the meeting, Putin addressed NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg’s suggestion to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike Russian territory. He differentiated between various missiles but cautioned that enabling Kyiv to launch more powerful weapons at Russia would be a serious escalation, potentially drawing the West into a war with Russia. Putin indicated that Russia would respond by intercepting these Western missiles, specifically mentioning US ATACMS, and British and French missile systems. Putin also suggested that Moscow might deploy similar high-technology, long-range missiles close enough to strike countries that allow Ukraine to target Russian territory. “If we see that these countries are being drawn into a war against the Russian Federation, then we reserve the right to act in the same way. This is a path to very serious problems,” Putin said, although he did not specify the locations for such deployments. The situation has been exacerbated by President Joe Biden’s authorization for Kyiv to use some US.-supplied weapons against military targets inside Russia. However, Washington still prohibits Kyiv from using ATACMS, which have a range of up to 186 miles (300 km), and other long-range US supplied weapons. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, during a visit to Kyiv, told Reuters that Ukraine had the right to use the weapons provided by Britain to strike targets inside Russia, leaving the decision to Kyiv.
Putin, speaking to journalists for over three hours at the newly built 81-floor Gazprom tower ahead of the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, touched on various subjects from the war in Gaza to the upcoming US election. He remarked that the United States is more interested in its own greatness than in Ukraine, asserting that the US is fighting for its own interests rather than for the Ukrainian people. Regarding the US political landscape, Putin commented that Russia does not concern itself with who the next US president will be but criticized the US judicial system, describing it as being used for political battles against Republican nominee Donald Trump. He described the prosecution of Trump as a misuse of the judicial system for internal political struggles, highlighting the broader issues within the US political system. As the war in Ukraine continues, Putin increasingly warns of the risk of a global conflict. He reiterated that Russia’s nuclear doctrine permits the use of nuclear weapons if the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are threatened. “For some reason, the West believes that Russia will never use it,” Putin said, referencing the risk of nuclear escalation over Ukraine. He emphasized that Russia’s nuclear doctrine should be taken seriously, as it allows for the use of nuclear weapons in response to significant threats.
Putin framed the conflict in Ukraine as part of a broader existential battle with the West, which he claims has humiliated Russia since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 by encroaching on Moscow’s sphere of influence, including Ukraine. He described the 2014 Maidan Revolution in Ukraine as a US-backed coup, leading to the current conflict. The West, on the other hand, views the invasion as an imperial-style land grab and has committed to helping Ukraine defeat Russian forces. Ukraine has vowed to expel every Russian soldier from its territory, including areas now claimed by Moscow. While Western leaders have downplayed Russia’s warnings about the risk of a broader war, they have repeatedly cautioned that Putin might attack a NATO member, which could lead to a direct conflict between Russia and the US-led alliance.
Both Putin and Biden have acknowledged that a direct conflict between Russia, the world’s largest nuclear power, and NATO would edge closer to World War Three. Putin criticized the notion that Russia wants to attack NATO, calling it “complete nonsense” and a harmful misconception. In summary, Putin’s remarks underscore the escalating tensions and the serious risks of further conflict if the West continues to support Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons against Russia.
