Putin said that Ukraine would rely on U.S. and European allies for satellite targeting data and programming of the missiles’ flight paths.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters on Sept. 12 that if NATO allows Ukraine to strike inside Russia with Western-supplied long-range missiles, it would be tantamount to becoming directly involved in the war and would change the nature of the conflict.
“If this decision is taken, it will mean nothing less than the direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States and European countries in the war in Ukraine,” Putin told Russian state television. “This will be their direct participation, and this, of course, will significantly change the very essence, the very nature of the conflict.”
The Russian leader made the comments during an interview with Russian state television.
Putin said Ukraine, lacking the military intelligence capability, would rely on U.S. and European allies for satellite targeting data and programming of the missiles’ flight paths.
“So this is not a question of allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not,” Putin said. “It is a question of deciding whether or not NATO countries are directly involved in a military conflict.”
Putin added that Russia will make “appropriate decisions in response to the threats that will be posed to us.”
His comments came after the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Minister David Lammy met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine to discuss ongoing military support for Kyiv.
Kyiv has been requesting long-range weaponry, including the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and British Storm Shadow missiles, to be used in Russian territory, with Zelenskyy warning Western leaders that delaying such a decision allows Russia to relocate its army deeper into its territory.
“So, if our partners lift restrictions, it would be highly desirable for this to be part of Ukraine’s victory strategy, rather than just a political strategy. Lifting restrictions should mean truly lifting them,” Zelenskyy said in a Sept. 12 statement following his meeting with U.S. and British officials.
