June 2024

Sunday, June 9, 2024

On Wednesday, in an exchange with International press in Saint Petersburg, Russia, president Vladimir Putin warned Russia could give weapons to other countries to strike Western nations. Putin did not specify any countries or which weapons may be provided.

This occurred after the United States and Germany permitted Ukraine to use the weapons they provided, to defend Kharkiv, including targeting opposing assets within Russian territory. This was followed the next day by Dutch approval to use F-16s they provided, in Russian airspace. US weapons were, according to Mike Rounds, a United States senator, recently used to strike targets within Russia.

Putin also said the decision to permit the use of Western-supplied weapons on Russian territory was a “direct involvement in the war against the Russian Federation, and we reserve the right to act the same way.” He further warned this was a “dangerous step” and it harmed Russo-German relations. In addition, he stated, “If someone thinks it is possible to supply such weapons to a war zone to attack our territory and create problems for us, why don’t we have the right to supply our weapons,” and “the response can be asymmetric.”

In response to a question about deploying nuclear weapons in the conflict, Putin responded “they believe in the West that Russia will never use it [a nuclear weapon].” He continued by saying “If somebody’s actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider it possible to use all means at our disposal.”

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