Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning Thursday, stating that if the United States and the United Kingdom allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with long-range Western missiles, it would signify the “direct involvement of NATO countries” in the ongoing conflict.
“This is not a question of allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not. It is a question of deciding whether or not NATO countries are directly involved in a military conflict,” Putin said in an interview on Russian state TV. “This will be their direct participation, and this, of course, will significantly change the very essence, the very nature of the conflict.”
Putin’s warning came as reports surfaced suggesting that U.S. President Joe Biden is considering allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian targets, marking a dangerous new phase in the two-and-a-half-year war. The New York Times reported that Biden “appears on the verge of clearing the way for Ukraine to launch long-range Western weapons deep inside Russian territory, as long as it doesn’t use arms provided by the United States.”
The potential shift in policy has heightened tensions, with key NATO allies like the U.K. eager to move forward. Britain has signaled its willingness to allow Ukraine to use its “Storm Shadow” long-range missiles to strike at Russian military targets, but it is waiting for explicit approval from Biden to show a united front with the U.S. and France, which makes a similar missile.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has cited Iran’s alleged transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia as further justification for arming Ukraine with long-range capabilities. However, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson rebuked these claims, labeling them “ugly propaganda” aimed at diverting attention from the West’s involvement in the Gaza crisis.
Ukraine, which has already received $55.7 billion in military aid from the U.S. since the conflict began, has carried out multiple drone strikes deep inside Russian territory. But if Kyiv is granted permission to use long-range missiles, it could further escalate tensions. Politico noted that Moscow might retaliate by targeting NATO assets, such as the critical weapons supply hub in the Polish city of Rzeszów. Any such strike could trigger a direct confrontation between nuclear-armed powers.
“Military experts argue any guidelines agreed for the British weapons at the two-hour summit in Washington could also then pave the way for the Ukrainians to fire U.S.-supplied ATACMS—a tactical ballistic missile system—at airfields and army bases deep inside Russia,” Politico observed.
The prospect of a diplomatic resolution to the war seems increasingly bleak. Aída Chávez, communications director at Just Foreign Policy, noted in an article for The Intercept that progressives who urged for diplomatic solutions in 2022 were “pilloried” for their stance. Chávez wrote, “Ukraine is not in a position to win the war, nor does it have a stronger bargaining position in talks than it did in late 2022.”
The possibility of Ukraine using long-range missiles has sparked debate in both Europe and the U.S. During a recent visit to Kyiv, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted at a potential shift in the Biden administration’s strategy. “From day one, as you heard me say, we have adjusted and adapted as needs have changed, as the battlefield has changed, and I have no doubt that we’ll continue to do that as this evolves,” Blinken said.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Washington is expected to focus on whether to allow Ukraine access to long-range Western missiles. However, Russia has already signaled its displeasure. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) recently revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow, accusing them of spying, according to Reuters.
Though Biden has yet to approve the use of longer-range systems, pressure is mounting. On Tuesday, a bipartisan congressional Ukraine caucus called on Biden to lift restrictions on long-range missile use. Key House Republicans also echoed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s calls for more robust military assistance.
Putin expressed doubt about Ukraine’s ability to use these sophisticated weapons without Western assistance. “The Ukrainian army is not capable of using cutting-edge high-precision long-range systems supplied by the West” without NATO’s help, Putin said.
The concerns of further escalation remain a key consideration. Blinken, when pressed about the risks of allowing long-range missile use, remarked that “escalation is one factor, but certainly not the only factor, and it’s not necessarily a dispositive factor.” He also pointed out that Russia’s acquisition of Iranian ballistic missiles has increased the stakes. “If anyone is taking escalatory action, it would appear to be Mr. Putin and Russia,” he said.
Ukraine has already made use of U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles with a range of around 180 miles to strike Russian assets in Crimea. The potential for expanding these operations deeper into Russian territory raises fears of an even wider conflict.
With tensions at a boiling point, Putin’s warning remains clear: “This will be their direct participation, and this, of course, will significantly change the very essence, the very nature of the conflict.”
COMMENTS