Russian President Vladimir Putin warned NATO members on Tuesday about the potential global conflict that could arise from allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike deep inside Russian territory. Speaking in Tashkent during a visit to Uzbekistan, Putin emphasized the “serious consequences” that such actions could entail, particularly for small, densely populated European countries.
Putin’s comments were in response to ongoing discussions within some NATO member states about permitting Ukraine to target sites inside Russia using Western-supplied weapons. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently suggested that alliance members should reconsider restrictions on Ukraine using these weapons for strikes within Russia.
“In Europe, especially in small countries, they should realize what they are playing with,” Putin said. “They should remember that they are countries with small, densely populated territories. This is a factor they should keep in mind before talking about striking Russia.”
Putin argued that allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia would necessitate Western satellite, intelligence, and military assistance, thereby directly involving Western countries in the conflict. He stressed that this “constant escalation” could lead to a broader global conflict, questioning how the United States and its allies would respond to such a scenario.
Putin also commented on the presence of Western military instructors in Ukraine, who he claimed were operating undercover as mercenaries. He warned that officially sending troops from countries like France would mark another escalation towards a serious conflict in Europe and a potential global war.
“There are specialists there under the guise of mercenaries,” Putin said, adding that these individuals would be “defeated” by the Russian army regardless of their nationality. “We will do what we think is necessary regardless of who is on the territory of Ukraine. They should be aware of this.”
European leaders have increasingly supported Ukraine’s right to defend itself, even if that includes strikes inside Russia. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that it is “perfectly possible” for Ukraine to strike targets within Russia and that doing so does not contradict the laws of war. Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren echoed this sentiment, saying the Netherlands would not prevent Ukraine from attacking Russian targets and hoped other countries would change their positions.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur remarked on the imbalance in the conflict, noting, “It cannot be normal that Russia is attacking from very deep into Ukrainian territory and the Ukrainians are fighting with one hand behind their back.”
Despite this support from some NATO members, the Biden administration has cautioned against Ukraine using American-made weapons for strikes inside Russia. However, there are reports that U.S. officials are now debating whether to modify this policy.
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