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Putin Renews Warning to NATO Over Ukraine Missiles

Moscow is formulating ways to respond if Western countries approve Ukrainian strikes deep into Russia using long-range weapons donated by the likes of the U.S., President Vladimir Putin has said.

The Kremlin leader told Russian state media journalist Pavel Zarubin that he hoped Western countries had listened to his statements on their green-lighting long-range weapons against Russia.

“They have not told me anything about it, but I hope they have heard,” Putin said in recorded remarks posted to messaging app Telegram. “Because, of course, we will have to make some decisions for ourselves, too.”

Ukraine, despite repeated requests from Kyiv, is not permitted to use long-range Western weapons to strike deep into Russian territory. It is allowed to use short-range weapons to fend off immediate threats to its border, but uses long-range drones to launch strikes on Moscow’s air bases, ammunition dumps and oil refineries hundreds of miles into Russian soil.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan, Russia, on October 24, 2024. Russia is formulating ways to respond if Western countries approve Ukrainian strikes deep into Russia using long-range weapons donated by the likes of the… More AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
The U.S. has provided its Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, to Ukraine, which have a range of around 190 miles. The U.K. and France have sent the Anglo-French Storm Shadow, or SCALP, air-launched cruise missiles, with a range of approximately 155 miles. Kyiv has wielded these weapons against Russian-controlled territory internationally recognized as Ukrainian.

Germany, one of Ukraine’s major supporters, has refused to provide its Taurus missiles, which are broadly similar to Storm Shadow.

Western officials had signaled last month that this ban could be lifted, but it has not yet been publicly announced.

Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the war now well past the two-and-a-half-year mark, has soured relations between Russia and many Western countries to their worst point since the end of the Cold War. Ukraine relies heavily on the West for support in its operations.

It is “too early” to talk about which options would be on the table, Putin said. “But, of course, our military command is thinking about this and will offer various options for responding.”

Putin said in mid-September that if Western nations allowed Ukraine to use these weapons to strike Russia, “it will mean nothing short of direct involvement” in the conflict. NATO countries have been very wary to avoid escalating the war.

“It will mean that NATO countries, the United States, and European countries are parties to the war in Ukraine,” Putin said, according to a Kremlin readout. “This will mean their direct involvement in the conflict, and it will clearly change the very essence, the very nature of the conflict dramatically.”

“This will mean that NATO countries—the United States and European countries – are at war with Russia.”

Putin said at the time that Moscow would “make appropriate decisions in response to the threats that will be posed to us.”

NATO has repeatedly said the alliance is not at war with Moscow, nor “party to the war Russia is waging on Ukraine.”

“We do not seek confrontation with Russia,” the alliance has said.

The Kremlin leader said Ukraine would not be able to operate long-range systems independent of its backers.