Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to the West on Thursday, stating that allowing Ukraine to use longer-range weapons to strike targets within Russia would escalate the conflict, effectively putting NATO “at war” with Russia.
This warning comes as U.S. and U.K. officials deliberate over Kyiv’s request to relax the restrictions on using Western-supplied weapons to target Russian soil, more than two and a half years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Moscow claimed to have retaken territory in the western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces had made advances in recent weeks, according to The Moscow Times.
Putin’s remarks followed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s assurance that Washington would swiftly review Kyiv’s long-standing plea for more flexibility in using Western weapons to strike Russian targets.
“This would significantly change the nature of the conflict,” Putin said in an interview with state television. “It would mean that NATO countries—the U.S. and European nations—are at war with Russia. If that’s the case, we will make decisions based on the new threats we face.”
In a press conference in Warsaw, Blinken stated that the U.S. would “adjust and adapt as necessary,” including reconsidering Ukraine’s access to Western weapons to defend against Russian aggression.
Kursk Counteroffensive
On August 6, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk border region, advancing several kilometers and capturing dozens of settlements. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that Russian troops were now counterattacking.
The Ukrainian advance, the largest foreign military operation on Russian soil since World War II, caught Moscow by surprise. Russia initially appeared to be on the defensive, focusing on evacuating 150,000 civilians from the region.
In a statement on Telegram, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that “Units of the ‘North’ group of troops liberated 10 settlements within two days.”
Zelensky confirmed Russian counteroffensive efforts during a press conference in Kyiv but maintained that Ukraine’s operations were proceeding “according to plan.” While he did not disclose specific details of Russian movements, Ukraine’s military leadership previously reported having seized over 100 settlements and around 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory.
Kyiv has stated that it does not aim to annex Russian territory but hopes to force Russia to divert troops and use territorial gains as leverage in future negotiations.
Longer-Range Strikes
Ukraine has been pushing for more flexibility to target Russian airfields and other military installations deeper inside Russia, which it believes are key to Moscow’s continued invasion efforts.
Currently, Washington only permits Ukraine to strike Russian targets in the occupied territories of Ukraine and certain Russian border areas involved in military operations.
Zelensky emphasized that delays in expanding these restrictions allow Russia to move crucial military assets further into its territory, complicating Ukrainian efforts.
The Kremlin warned on Wednesday that it would respond “appropriately” if these limitations were lifted.
President Joe Biden is expected to address Ukraine’s request in a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday. Biden has thus far been cautious about actions that could provoke direct conflict between nuclear-armed Russia and the U.S.
During his visit to Poland, Blinken also discussed an appeal from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga for neighboring countries to assist in intercepting Russian missiles targeting Ukraine’s western regions. Russia has ramped up air attacks on Ukraine, including strikes on energy infrastructure, as winter approaches.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
