In a recent press conference in Uzbekistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning of "serious consequences" should Western nations permit Ukraine to utilize their weaponry to launch attacks on Russian territory.
His comments come at a time of escalating tensions, with some NATO members and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky advocating for direct strikes on Russian soil, a move the United States has yet to endorse.
Putin questioned the potential response of the United States in the event of such serious consequences unfolding in Europe, given the parity of strategic weapons between the two nations. He queried, "It's hard to say do they want a global conflict?"
The Russian leader further suggested that the deployment of long-range weapons against Russia would necessitate reliance on Western intelligence data, implying the involvement of NATO military personnel in the attacks. He issued a stark warning against such a course of action, cautioning NATO member nations, particularly those in Europe, to be mindful of the implications of their actions.
Putin also advised "countries with small territory and dense populations" to exercise particular caution.
The ongoing struggle of Ukraine to repel Russia's extensive offensive in the Kharkiv region has brought to light the prohibition on the use of U.S. weapons to strike within Russia. This is a key issue that Kyiv is keen to overturn, with some Ukrainian officials arguing that Russia's attack, initiated from the Belgorod region, could have been mitigated if they were permitted to target locations within that Russian province.
In an effort to persuade the U.S. to lift the ban, a delegation of five Ukrainian parliamentarians visited Washington this month. They met with Biden administration officials and congressional lawmakers. David Arahamiya, the head of a Ukrainian parliamentary group on U.S. relations who led the delegation, likened the situation to an attack on Washington, D.C., from Virginia, with a prohibition on retaliating against Virginia. He described the policy as "insane" and stated that military personnel, such as generals, were unable to comprehend it.
During a recent visit to Kyiv, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed America's commitment to ensuring Ukraine's victory in the war against Russia. However, he emphasized that Kyiv should concentrate on reclaiming Ukrainian territory. He stated, "Ukraine has to make decisions for itself about how its going to conduct this war, a war its conducting in defense of its freedom, of its sovereignty, of its territorial integrity." Blinken further clarified the U.S.'s stance on the matter, stating, "Weve been clear about our own policy."
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