As the Ukrainian war continues for two and a half years, Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again warned that Russia will respond strongly if the United States and its NATO allies provide Ukraine with long-range missiles that allow it to attack targets deep inside Russia. Putin's remarks reflect that the Ukrainian war has entered a more dangerous phase, and it has also strained relations between Russia and the West to the highest point since the Cold War.

Russia is preparing counterattack options

In a recent interview, Putin revealed that the Russian Ministry of Defense is urgently formulating a series of counterattack plans to deal with possible long-range strikes from Ukraine. Although Putin did not elaborate on specific measures, he made it clear that Russia will not turn a blind eye to this threat, Moscow's response will be "appropriate", and various options are already under review.

Putin pointed out that if Ukraine uses long-range missiles with Western support to strike targets in Russia, NATO countries will be seen as directly involved in the Ukrainian war. This will not only be regarded by Moscow as a "major escalation", but may also trigger a more complex international conflict. When talking about this issue, Putin said that NATO military personnel and satellite data may be directly involved in missile launches and target locking, which will make it impossible for the United States and Europe to evade responsibility.

Western stance and Ukraine’s pressure

Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Ukraine has relied on military assistance from the West, including drones and various weapons and equipment. However, in the face of the continued offensive of the Russian army, Ukrainian President Zelensky has repeatedly pressured Western allies to provide more powerful long-range missiles to strike Russian military targets in depth, especially in the eastern region where the Russian offensive has the upper hand.

Although the US government has not publicly stated whether it will support Ukraine’s request, some US officials remain reserved about whether to allow the Ukrainian army to attack targets in Russia. They believe that even if Ukraine obtains these long-range weapons, it may not be able to completely reverse the passive situation on the battlefield.

Russia’s concerns and nuclear threats

As the Ukrainian war intensifies, Putin has recently adjusted Russia’s nuclear strategy, further lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. This move was interpreted by many as Putin’s direct response to Western discussions on supporting Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles. By showing the threat of nuclear weapons, Putin tried to send a clear message to the West: Any behavior that may threaten Russia’s territorial security will be met with an asymmetric response.

When asked whether the West would take these warnings seriously, Putin stressed that he hoped the West would hear and understand Russia's position. Although the United States has repeatedly stated that it does not want the conflict to escalate, Putin made it clear that if NATO countries continue to take actions to support Ukraine's strikes in Russia's depth, Russia will be forced to make corresponding decisions.

Ukraine continues to bear the Russian offensive

At the same time, Ukraine is still under the threat of a fierce offensive by the Russian army. The Ukrainian military recently stated that the Russian army has once again launched a large-scale drone attack, of which 80 drones were shot down by the Ukrainian air defense system. Although the Ukrainian army successfully intercepted some drones, the large-scale attack still poses a threat to Ukraine's infrastructure and cities.

Ukrainian President Zelensky accused Russia on social media of using more than 1,100 air-guided bombs and more than 560 drones to attack in the past week, which has put great pressure on Ukraine. He pointed out that Russia's aggressive actions have not stopped, and attacks on Ukrainian people and their towns are launched almost every day, and Ukraine's counterattack is imminent.

Risk of escalation of regional conflicts

The current development of the Ukrainian war shows that the situation is extremely complicated. As the Russian army continues to attack and Ukraine's defense capabilities are gradually weakened, whether the West will intervene further has become a key issue. If the United States and its allies choose to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles and allow it to attack targets in Russia, the war may escalate further. This will not only have a profound impact on the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, but may also affect the security situation in the entire Eastern European region and even trigger a larger international conflict.

Russia has demonstrated its tough attitude by adjusting its nuclear strategy and issuing public threats, while Western countries face the difficult task of finding a balance between supporting Ukraine and avoiding escalation of the conflict. In the context of the continued escalation of the war, the role of the international community has become particularly important. All parties need to seek solutions to resolve the conflict through diplomatic means, otherwise once the situation gets out of control, it may lead to unforeseen consequences.

Future Outlook

As the Russian-Ukrainian war enters a new stage, the attitudes and actions of both sides will undoubtedly affect the development of the situation in the coming months. Putin's latest threat shows Russia's deep concern about Ukraine and Western support, while the West needs to carefully choose between continuing to support Ukraine and preventing the escalation of the situation.

Overall, although the war is still going on, all parties are facing tremendous pressure and challenges. Ukraine hopes to change the battlefield situation by acquiring long-range missiles, while Russia protects its strategic interests by strengthening nuclear deterrence and warning the West. The future development of the situation depends on the West's response to Ukraine's demands and Russia's response to these decisions. The whole world will also pay close attention to the evolution of this complex and dangerous war.