Putin Warns West Against Long-Range Weapons for Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning to Western countries regarding the potential consequences of allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons against targets deep within Russia. Putin expressed hope that the West has heeded his cautions, emphasizing that such actions could escalate the conflict and potentially lead to direct confrontations with NATO. He highlighted that Ukrainian forces would be unable to operate these weapons independently due to their reliance on NATO's intelligence and expertise. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been advocating for permission from Western allies to employ long-range missiles, arguing that this could push Moscow towards seeking peace. Despite discussions among Western officials about lifting restrictions on such weapon use, no formal decision has been made, with leaders like U.S. President Joe Biden downplaying the significance of Putin's threats. The ongoing conflict has significantly strained relations between Russia and the West, raising concerns about a potential escalation.