Putin issues grim warning over direct conflict with the West

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with Western long-range missiles would mean NATO's direct involvement in the conflict. Speaking with Russian state TV on Thursday, President Putin warned this move would change the "very essence" of the conflict. Ukraine has been requesting long-range US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles for months to limit Russia’s attack capabilities. "So this is not a question of allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not," Putin said. "It is a question of deciding whether or not NATO countries are directly involved in a military conflict." Putin claimed that NATO personnel would need to handle satellite targeting and missile programming, as Kyiv does not have the capability. This, he argued, would lead to NATO's direct involvement in the conflict. He concluded Russia would respond with "appropriate decisions" based on the heightened threat. "And if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us," he said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken left Ukraine after unveiling new support for Kyiv but without agreeing to Ukraine’s request for long-range missile strikes into Russia.