Don’t Empower Ukraine With Long-Range Missiles, Your Action May Escalate Conflict – Putin Warns US, NATO

Russia President, Vladimir Putin, has warned the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) against giving Ukraine long-range missiles.

Putin noted that such move from the West would “change the very nature of the conflict.”

He also issued a severe threat against giving Zelensky more firepower.

“It would mean that NATO countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia,” he told a state TV reporter on Thursday.

It would be recalled that the United States and British foreign ministers met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Wednesday with the war at a pivotal point.

The development also comes even as American officials have also been discussing easing restrictions on the use of weapons that could strike deep inside Russia.

“If that’s the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats that we will face.”

He added that clearing the way for Ukraine to use missiles that could hit Russian targets “is a decision on whether NATO countries are directly involved in the conflict or not.”

United State President, Joe Biden, is set to meet British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at the White House.

Earlier, the ICC has issued arrest warrants for several Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin for the unlawful deportation of children during the war.

A warrant on the same grounds was issued for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian commissioner for children’s rights.

Also subject to warrants are; Sergei Shoigu, head of Russia’s Security Council, and Viktor Sokolov and Sergey Kobylash, who are accused of directing attacks against civilian sites.

Russia has dismissed the warrants as meaningless and “null and void”.

Zelensky has put pressure on the West to give him more firepower and air defenses after a series of Russian rocket attacks.

The crisis between Russia and Ukraine has continued to escalate with losses of lives and properties.