Putin Warns NATO Lifting Missile Restrictions for Ukraine Could Lead to Direct Conflict with Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning, suggesting that the West lifting restrictions on missiles for Ukraine would put NATO at war with Russia. He stressed that if NATO countries, including the U.S. and European allies, allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory, it would escalate the conflict to a new level.

Putin indicated that Russia would respond to this change with appropriate military measures, underscoring the potential for serious escalation between Russia and the West.

The warning comes as President Biden faces growing pressure from Western leaders to remove the U.S. ban on Ukraine using long-range missiles, which could target areas deep inside Russia. So far, Biden has been reluctant to approve such a shift, despite mounting international pressure.

Putin’s statement highlights the risks involved in allowing Ukraine greater access to advanced weaponry, suggesting it could provoke a broader confrontation involving NATO.

At the same time, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has traveled to Washington, D.C., to discuss military aid to Ukraine with President Biden. Their meeting is expected to focus heavily on the use of Western-supplied weapons, particularly long-range missiles that Ukraine could use against Russia.

Meanwhile, U.S. military forces intercepted Russian aircraft flying near Alaska, though the planes did not breach U.S. or Canadian airspace. This incident adds to the growing tensions between Russia and NATO countries.

Despite calls to arm Ukraine more heavily, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has voiced skepticism about whether the use of American long-range missiles would meaningfully change the course of the war.

While global pressure is pushing for increased military aid, intelligence assessments caution that simply providing Ukraine with these weapons might not shift the balance in its favor. Military expert Seth Krummich noted that the gap between Pentagon intelligence and international demands is a key aspect of the ongoing debate.

In a related diplomatic move, Moscow announced it was revoking accreditation for six British diplomats, accusing them of espionage. Putin also cast doubt on Ukraine’s ability to operate advanced Western weaponry without NATO’s direct assistance in targeting.

Security analysts have raised concerns that missteps or misinformation involving these weapons could trigger a dangerous escalation, with the risk of unintended conflict between Russia and NATO growing more pronounced.