Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that a decision by the United States or its NATO allies to allow Ukraine using Western long-range missiles to hit targets deep inside Russia would be seen as NATO’s direct participation in the war, which he said would change the “nature of the conflict”.
“Flight missions for these missile systems can actually only be taken in by military personnel from NATO countries. Ukrainian military cannot do this. And therefore it is not a question of allowing the Ukrainian regime to hit Russia with these weapons or not. It is a matter of making a decision whether NATO countries directly participate in the military conflict or not,” Putin said in response to a question on Thursday.
“If this decision is made, it will mean nothing less than the direct participation of NATO countries, the United States and European countries in the war in Ukraine,” the Russian leader added.
U.S. officials told CBS News that Ukraine could assign targets without direct U.S. or NATO involvement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked his Western partners to allow his country to launch long-range missiles from the United States or Europe deep into Russian territory, including US ATACMS and British Storm Shadows.
President Biden is expected to discuss the topic in a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington, DC, later Friday.
If the United States and Britain approve the move, it will “mean that NATO countries, the United States and European countries are fighting Russia,” Putin said. “And if so, given the change in the very core of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us.”
Asked on Friday whether the Kremlin had seen a reaction among Western powers to Putin’s statement, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “the statement that Putin made yesterday is very important. It is extremely clear, unambiguous and does not allow for any double readings. And we have no doubt that this statement has reached its addressees.”
contributed to this report.