Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened Europe with “severe penalties” if Ukraine is allowed to make use of long-range precision weapons provided by the West in opposition to Russian territory sooner or later.
“These NATO representatives, particularly in Europe and particularly within the small international locations, ought to realise what they’re enjoying with,” mentioned within the Uzbek capital Tashkent on Tuesday on the finish of a state go to.
He hinted at navy counter-attacks. Smaller international locations particularly shouldn’t neglect that their territories should not giant and are additionally densely populated.
Putin, who began the Russian battle of aggression in opposition to Ukraine greater than two years in the past, accused the West of constant escalation. Trendy weapons methods such because the ATACMS missile complicated should not managed by Ukrainian troopers, however by extremely certified NATO specialists primarily based on knowledge from satellite tv for pc reconnaissance, the Russian president claimed.
To date, the weapons have primarily been geared toward Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia.
Putin criticized NATO Secretary Basic Jens Stoltenberg particularly, who’s in favour of firing at navy targets on Russian territory. Stoltenberg has referred to Ukraine’s proper to self-defence.
Ukraine is demanding authorization from the US and different Western states to make use of missiles and cruise missiles to assault Russia so as to fight the enemy extra successfully.
To date, Kiev has primarily used drones of its personal manufacturing for these assaults. Till now, the Russian navy has been capable of assemble items behind the border for brand new assaults on Ukrainian territory or bombard cities close to the border, reminiscent of Kharkiv, with plane from a protected place with just about no interference.
In response to Putin, such authorization by Western states would quantity to a direct confrontation between Russia and the West. On this context, the 71-year-old as soon as once more referred to Russia’s strategic nuclear weapons.
He additionally questioned the attainable safety of NATO international locations by the US. “If severe penalties for Europe materialize, how will the US behave in view of our parity in strategic weapons?” he requested.
For the reason that begin of the battle, the Russian management has repeatedly threatened to make use of nuclear weapons to discourage the West from offering better assist for Ukraine.
