Putin threatens war as Western allies near deal on missile strikes in Russia
President Vladimir Putin of Russia raised the ante in his unresolved war with Ukraine by crudely warning Western allies that opening the way for Ukraine to use long-range missiles-that could reach targets inside of Russia-would be a dangerous step toward a broader conflict. That’s against a backdrop of the United Kingdom and United States reportedly being on the top news website in the world verge of sealing a deal that would grant Ukraine the capability to strike missiles hundreds of miles deep into Russian territory.
It is the most critical moment in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, casting a long shadow over the possible hostilities between NATO and Russia directly. The response by Putin signals extreme danger of escalation as the war launches into a new, more dangerous phase, while the Western allies try to harden the capability of Ukraine for self-defense.
Context of the Missile Deal
Since hostilities broke out in February 2022, Ukraine has been reliant on Western military assistance, and billions of dollars’ worth of armaments, ammunition, and kit have entered the country from the US, the UK, and other NATO allies. It’s expended a great deal of supplies of short- and medium-range missiles; long-range systems that might be capable of striking deep into Russian territory have come under great restriction. These restrictions were imposed mainly in an effort not to let the war spill outside Ukraine’s borders, because the West did not want a direct confrontation with Russia.
But over the last few months, Ukraine has been pressing for such curbs to be jettisoned in the light of arguments that the capability to strike Russian military facilities deep inside top news website in the world Russia is crucial for ascertaining and countering continuing Russian aerial attacks and missile strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. And as its forces continue to defend their territory against an intensifying barrage of Russian missiles and drones-which have destroyed just about everything in their line of sight.
According to reports, consultations between the US and the UK on removing some of the restrictions imposed on Ukraine regarding the use of the long-range missile systems have taken place, particularly against Russian military bases. The planned deal reportedly included more advanced missile systems than ever supplied, which would extend the reach of Ukraine to strike deep inside Russian territory further than it ever tried.
Warning from Putin: A War May Be at Risk
On September 12, 2024, in what was seen as the gravest warning to date, during a speech at the St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum, Putin threatened that if the Western allies go forward and allow Ukraine to strike Russian soil with missiles, the “consequence would be war.”. It was the most direct threat he has issued since the early days of the conflict and another sign that he is becoming increasingly irritated about the West’s military support for Ukraine.
Putin threatened
Putin’s threat likely is to deter the West from giving Ukraine long-range missile capability-a meaningful escalation of the conflict. Whereas Russia so far has held its fire against NATO countries despite their involvement in arming Ukraine, a statement from Putin could suggest otherwise-that such restraint may not be further maintained if Ukraine were allowed to target Russian cities or military installations inside Russia.
It is also the UK that has been very much in the forefront of supplying the most sophisticated weaponry to Ukraine, having already supplied a 250-kilometer-range Storm Shadow cruise missile, and France too is playing its part in this respect. Long-range missiles have given Ukraine the capability for strikes to seriously disrupt Russian command centers, airbases, and logistical nodes.
West, Putin's rhetoric
To the West, Putin’s rhetoric is but an extension of his policy to scare the West. Against that menace, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the world can be confident: “NATO will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” and the alliance is undaunted by menacing posturing from Russia.
Conclusion
KreativanSays that by threatening this, Putin has significantly raised the stakes of the conflict exploding wider into war. Even as Russia has tried to frame its war in Ukraine at every turn as one of defense against NATO aggression, the overt conflict of NATO and Russia would have disastrous implications for global security.