02:54The deployment of Western-made long-range precision weapons would imply that NATO was 'at war with Russia', President Vladimir Putin said in St Petersburg on Thursday.
"If this decision is taken, it will mean nothing but direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States, European countries in the war in Ukraine. And certainly, it considerably changes the very essence of the conflict, implying that NATO countries, the United States, European countries are at war with Russia," the Russian leader claimed.
Putin also warned the West that Moscow would respond to these potential changes with 'appropriate measures' based on the faced threats.
Meanwhile, US State Secretary Antony Blinken has been repeatedly asked about any decision on long-range strikes - including supplying weaponry and lifting restrictions which Ukraine has been calling for - during trips to Kiev and Warsaw this week.
While not confirming any change of policy, he and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy have referred to a meeting between US President Joe Biden and UK PM Keir Starmer on Friday. The American president said on Tuesday that Washington was 'working that out now' when asked about any change.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Kiev's 'use of Western long-range weapons' implies NATO 'at war with Russia' - Putin
The deployment of Western-made long-range precision weapons would imply that NATO was 'at war with Russia', President Vladimir Putin said in St Petersburg on Thursday.
"If this decision is taken, it will mean nothing but direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States, European countries in the war in Ukraine. And certainly, it considerably changes the very essence of the conflict, implying that NATO countries, the United States, European countries are at war with Russia," the Russian leader claimed.
Putin also warned the West that Moscow would respond to these potential changes with 'appropriate measures' based on the faced threats.
Meanwhile, US State Secretary Antony Blinken has been repeatedly asked about any decision on long-range strikes - including supplying weaponry and lifting restrictions which Ukraine has been calling for - during trips to Kiev and Warsaw this week.
While not confirming any change of policy, he and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy have referred to a meeting between US President Joe Biden and UK PM Keir Starmer on Friday. The American president said on Tuesday that Washington was 'working that out now' when asked about any change.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
The deployment of Western-made long-range precision weapons would imply that NATO was 'at war with Russia', President Vladimir Putin said in St Petersburg on Thursday.
"If this decision is taken, it will mean nothing but direct involvement of NATO countries, the United States, European countries in the war in Ukraine. And certainly, it considerably changes the very essence of the conflict, implying that NATO countries, the United States, European countries are at war with Russia," the Russian leader claimed.
Putin also warned the West that Moscow would respond to these potential changes with 'appropriate measures' based on the faced threats.
Meanwhile, US State Secretary Antony Blinken has been repeatedly asked about any decision on long-range strikes - including supplying weaponry and lifting restrictions which Ukraine has been calling for - during trips to Kiev and Warsaw this week.
While not confirming any change of policy, he and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy have referred to a meeting between US President Joe Biden and UK PM Keir Starmer on Friday. The American president said on Tuesday that Washington was 'working that out now' when asked about any change.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.