Putin threatens war with NATO if Ukraine strikes deep into Russia

Vladimir Putin says Russia would be "at war" with the United States and its allies if they allow Ukraine to use long-range Western missiles to strike deep inside Russia. Putin described such a move as "an act of war."

This warning comes just hours before a crucial meeting in Washington between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden. The discussion will focus on whether Ukraine should be permitted to use long-range missiles to strike deeper into Russia.

In an interview with reporters Thursday, Sept. 12, Putin emphasized that allowing Ukraine to use these advanced Western weapons would imply direct NATO involvement in the conflict.

"We are talking about deciding whether NATO countries are directly involved in the military conflict or not," Putin said. "This will mean that NATO countries, the U.S. and European countries are at war with Russia. And if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us."

Putin also added that Ukrainian forces lack the capability to operate these missiles independently, relying instead on NATO personnel for targeting and satellite data.

The U.S. military already provides intelligence to Ukraine and has previously assisted in targeting, but it says it has not helped with any long-range systems currently being considered.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reinforced the seriousness of Putin’s message, stating that it was "extremely clear, unambiguous and does not allow for any double readings."

This latest threat is part of a broader Kremlin strategy that frames the conflict as a clash with the West and NATO. The specifics of Moscow’s potential counteractions remain uncertain.

This is not the only major escalation this week. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently announced that Russia has received new ballistic missiles from Iran , which the U.S. believes could be used against Ukraine.

Currently, Western allies are only allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range weapons to target areas along the Russian border, and only in retaliation for Russian attacks. Kyiv has been pushing for a policy change to allow strikes on deeper military targets inside Russia. This issue will take center stage as President Biden meets with the British prime minister to discuss their options.

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