Putin Asserts Right to Target Ukraine's Allies

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted that Russia reserves the right to target states supplying weapons to Ukraine, characterizing the conflict as having 'acquired elements of a global character'. This statement follows Ukraine's use of Western-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory, prompting a warning from Putin of potential escalations. Retired U.S. Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson supported the Kremlin's stance, claiming that NATO's involvement via U.S. support for Ukraine justifies Russian attacks on NATO targets. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan echoed this sentiment, asserting that Russia has the capability to defend itself and emphasizing the need for NATO to recognize the implications of their actions. The situation is further complicated by Russia's updated nuclear doctrine in response to perceived Western threats, which has raised concerns about the potential for escalation to nuclear conflict. As tensions mount, both sides are preparing for possible escalations in military engagement.