Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that he could potentially send long-range weapons to “regions around the world” whose governments want to strike Western targets, following the US and its allies’ decision to allow Ukrainian forces to use their weapons against Russian soil. Speaking in St. Petersburg, Putin claimed this new agreement between Kyiv and major NATO members signifies the alliance’s “direct involvement in the war against the Russian Federation.” He also stated that Moscow would reserve “the right to act the same way.
The Russian president added that if Western countries consider it possible to supply such weapons to the conflict zone for launching strikes on Russia’s territory, then why can’t Moscow send weapons of a similar caliber to some regions around the world, where they can be used to strike sensitive targets in countries that are causing problems for Russia? Putin did not specify which organizations or governments would potentially receive these weapons from the Kremlin.
He also claimed without evidence that Western nations supplying long-range arms to Ukraine were deploying personnel to direct and aim munitions fired by said weapons. The US has stated it does not keep track of specific targets hit by Ukraine’s use of such weapons.
According to White House national security spokesman John Kirby, “We’re just not in a position on a day-to-day basis of knowing exactly what the Ukrainians are firing at.” He further explained that it is difficult for the US to know precisely which targets are being struck by Ukraine, especially at a tactical level.
Putin’s comments followed Washington and Berlin reversing their long-standing policies and permitting Kyiv to launch strikes with American and German weapons. Other major allies supplying Ukraine, including the UK and France, had already authorized such strikes. However, President Joe Biden has only allowed Ukraine to fire on military targets in Russian regions bordering the northeastern region of Kharkiv.
Russian forces launched a renewed assault on Kharkiv earlier this month, and Ukraine claimed it knew the Kremlin was massing gear and troops in nearby Belgorod but couldn’t do anything about it due to targeting restrictions.
The US has prohibited Ukraine from launching ATACMS missiles on Russian soil as well. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Europe and the US have supplied more than 95% of all military aid to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
The Kiel Institute reports that the US sent Ukraine approximately $47 billion in military aid between February 2022 and February 2024. A new package, initially delayed by Congress this year, contained about $25 billion more in equipment and an additional $17 billion for other military purposes, according to a tally by the Center for Strategic & International Studies.