Moscow: (Rajeev Sharma): Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a sharp warning to the United States over the potential delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine, stating it would significantly deteriorate bilateral ties and heighten global tensions.
Speaking at a foreign policy forum in Sochi, Putin said any move to arm Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles would mark a “serious step” toward increased confrontation between the two nuclear powers. While acknowledging the damage such weapons could cause, he insisted they would not alter the outcome of the ongoing war.
“Our defenses are prepared,” Putin said. “They can inflict harm, yes—but they will not change the course of events on the battlefield. Our military continues to advance steadily.”
Putin also took aim at the broader involvement of Western nations in the conflict, suggesting Russia is not simply fighting Ukraine but is facing military and logistical support from NATO as a whole. His comments come at a time of growing speculation that Washington may further ramp up military assistance to Kyiv.
Addressing recent remarks by Donald Trump, who called Russia a “paper tiger” for failing to quickly defeat Ukraine, Putin dismissed the label and claimed that such assessments ignore the scale of Western involvement. He emphasized that Russia remains engaged in a broader geopolitical struggle, not a one-on-one conflict.
Despite his strong rhetoric, Putin reiterated the importance of dialogue and diplomacy. Referring to a previous summit with Trump, he said efforts to reduce nuclear tensions and explore peaceful solutions to the war should continue, but warned that supplying offensive weapons to Ukraine would severely undermine any chance of meaningful talks.
The Kremlin’s latest statements reflect growing unease in Moscow over Western military aid to Ukraine, as the war stretches into its third year with no resolution in sight.
