President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning about “serious consequences” if Western arms supplied to Ukraine were used to strike targets within Russia.
Putin’s statement came following French President Emmanuel Macron’s advocacy for Kyiv’s right to “neutralize” Russian military bases that are launching missiles into Ukraine. Concurrently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for sustained global engagement in the conflict.
During a visit to Uzbekistan, Putin expressed concerns about the escalating military support for Ukraine by NATO countries, including calls from the alliance’s chief, Jens Stoltenberg, to intensify attacks on Russian soil. “This constant escalation can lead to serious consequences,” Putin remarked.
Putin highlighted the European countries’ vulnerability, pointing out their “small territory” and “dense population,” which could be at risk in a deepened conflict. He stressed that the responsibility for any Ukrainian strikes using Western-supplied arms would fall on the suppliers.
Furthermore, Putin noted the presence of Western military instructors in Ukraine, possibly operating as mercenaries. He warned that officially sending instructors would signify a major escalation toward a serious European or global conflict.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell reported that EU nations are divided on sending military instructors to Ukraine. Germany and others are cautious of escalating conflict with Russia. EU countries have trained 50,000 Ukrainian troops for a 2022 mission.
Amidst these developments, Zelensky is actively seeking more advanced weaponry from the West, including missiles to target deeper into Russian territory. He aims to cripple Russia’s military and industrial capabilities. However, so far, Western partners have stipulated that their supplied arms should not be used to strike Russian soil. Instead, Ukrainian forces have used locally-made drones for such purposes.
Macron’s position reflects a nuanced approach, supporting strikes on military sites launching attacks on Ukraine but opposing attacks on civilian or other non-military targets within Russia. The White House, through spokesman John Kirby, has maintained that US-supplied weapons should not be used for strikes inside Russia.
As the conflict enters its third year, Zelensky continues to rally international support, emphasizing the global stakes of yielding to fatigue in the ongoing war.
Looking ahead, Zelensky is promoting a peace conference in Switzerland next month aimed at resolving the conflict without Russia’s participation. He has specifically urged US President Joe Biden to attend, highlighting the importance of US involvement in countering Putin’s influence.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the potential peace summit as “hopeless” without Russia, underscoring the deep geopolitical divisions and the complex path toward resolving the ongoing conflict.
