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Putin Warns of Direct Conflict with the West if Kyiv Is Allowed to Use Long-Range Missiles

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Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday that if the West permits Ukraine to use long-range Western-made missiles to strike Russian territory, it would amount to a direct military confrontation between NATO countries and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly requested long-range weapons, such as U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, to target deep within Russia and limit Moscow’s ability to launch further attacks.

In one of his most direct warnings yet, Putin emphasized that such a move would drag NATO directly into the conflict, as Kyiv lacks the technical expertise to program and target these missiles without Western military support. “This is not just about allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia,” Putin told Russian state television, “but about NATO’s direct involvement in a military conflict.”

He also hinted that Russia would respond with “appropriate decisions” should NATO countries get involved, though he stopped short of specifying what those measures might be. Previously, Putin has suggested arming the West’s enemies with Russian weapons or deploying conventional missiles close to U.S. and European targets.

The warning comes as Russia continues to revise its nuclear doctrine, with calls from foreign policy hawks to expand the conditions under which Moscow might use nuclear weapons against nations supporting NATO’s involvement in Ukraine. Russia is also conducting naval exercises with China and considering limiting key exports.

The ongoing war, which Russia launched in 2022, is seen by Putin as part of a larger struggle against Western influence, which he claims has undermined Russian sovereignty since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Meanwhile, the West and Ukraine frame the invasion as a land grab, with Ukraine vowing to reclaim the 18% of its territory currently under Russian control.

 

U.S. Cautions Long-Range Strikes Won’t Be Decisive in Ukraine War, Zelenskiy Pushes for Expanded Capabilities

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Ukraine’s long-range strikes into Russia, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized on Friday, will not be the decisive factor in turning the tide of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, even as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy continues to urge Western nations to supply long-range missiles. Speaking at a meeting of Ukraine’s allies at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Austin reiterated Washington’s commitment to supporting Kyiv, announcing an additional $250 million in U.S. security assistance. However, he pushed back against the idea that deep strikes within Russia using Western weapons would shift the balance of the war. Zelenskiy has long called for the lifting of restrictions that prevent Ukraine from striking targets deep inside Russia, arguing that such capabilities would pressure Moscow to seek peace. During the meeting, he received support from several Baltic nations, including Lithuania and Estonia, who echoed his call for more advanced weaponry.

Austin, however, maintained that no single capability would be decisive, explaining that Russia had already moved key aircraft beyond the range of U.S.-supplied missiles. He also pointed out that Ukraine possesses its own drone capabilities, which can reach targets within Russia. “There are many targets in Russia,” Austin said, referring to Ukraine’s use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other tactics to strike critical points. Meanwhile, Germany pledged an additional 12 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, and Canada announced it would send 80,840 surplus small air-to-surface rockets and 1,300 warheads in the months ahead.

Zelenskiy’s appearance at the Ramstein meeting comes at a critical juncture in the war, as Ukrainian forces conduct a surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, while Russian troops intensify their focus on capturing Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, a key logistics hub. Zelenskiy insists that long-range strikes on Russian territory are essential not only for liberating occupied regions but also for compelling Russia to negotiate peace. Despite Western reluctance to allow strikes deep inside Russia, Zelenskiy has consistently challenged the notion of ‘red lines’ drawn by Russia, asserting that such boundaries do not hold in the face of ongoing aggression.

The Ramstein meeting also comes at a politically sensitive time for the United States, with the upcoming presidential election potentially affecting U.S. support for Ukraine. While Vice President Kamala Harris has pledged continued support, former President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism over the aid being funneled to Ukraine and has suggested that peace talks could involve territorial concessions by Kyiv. At the meeting, Austin cited the heavy toll the war has taken on Russia’s military, estimating that over 350,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded and detailing the destruction of 32 Russian Navy vessels. Nonetheless, Moscow continues to unleash missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, highlighting the need for additional air defense systems, a point Zelenskiy underscored during the talks.

Russia Signals Potential Shift in Nuclear Doctrine Amid Escalating Tensions with Ukraine

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Russia has suggested that it may revise its official stance on the use of nuclear weapons, as tensions continue to escalate with Ukraine following cross-border incursions into Russia’s Kursk region. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that amendments to Russia’s nuclear doctrine are in progress, motivated by what Moscow perceives as a Western-backed escalation of the conflict with Ukraine.

Ukraine’s recent offensive, which has seized nearly 500 square miles of Russian territory since August, has prompted Russia to reconsider its nuclear policy. Ryabkov pointed to the ongoing military support provided to Ukraine by NATO allies, especially the supply of long-range missiles, as a driving factor behind the revision. Although Western nations have denied involvement in Ukraine’s cross-border operations, Russia accuses them of encouraging the offensive.

Russia’s current nuclear doctrine reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to nuclear or other mass destruction weapons used against it or its allies, as well as in the event of conventional aggression threatening the existence of the state. While the doctrine emphasizes nuclear weapons as a deterrent, Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have signaled that the conditions for nuclear deployment could be revised. Putin has referred to the nuclear doctrine as a “living instrument” that could be adjusted based on changing global dynamics.

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The possibility of deploying nuclear weapons has been a recurring theme since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Although tactical nuclear weapons, which are designed for battlefield use, have been stationed near Ukraine and in Belarus, Russia has so far refrained from employing them. However, recent Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory have exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s national defenses, raising concerns about a potential nuclear response.

Despite saber-rattling from Russian officials, analysts believe that the likelihood of Russia deploying nuclear weapons remains low. Experts from the Institute for the Study of War downplayed Ryabkov’s comments, suggesting that the rhetoric is intended to dissuade Western countries from supporting Ukraine further. The potential changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine are likely aimed at maintaining strategic ambiguity, rather than signaling an imminent shift in nuclear policy.

Russia’s framing of the conflict as an existential battle with the West has kept nuclear tensions simmering, but Ukrainian officials hope that their recent operations will dispel fears of nuclear retaliation and encourage more robust support from NATO, including the approval of longer-range missiles. As both sides continue to escalate, the global community watches closely, concerned that any misstep could trigger a nuclear confrontation with far-reaching consequences.