Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned Western nations on Tuesday that NATO members in Europe are risking serious consequences by proposing to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons for strikes deep inside Russia.

This, he warned, could potentially trigger a global conflict
Putin’s comments come over two years into the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. He has increasingly highlighted the risk of a broader global confrontation as the West deliberates on how to respond to Russian advances in Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg suggested to The Economist that alliance members should permit Ukraine to target deep into Russia with Western arms, a position supported by some NATO countries but not by the United States.

Putin, speaking to reporters in Tashkent, warned that constant escalation could lead to severe consequences, particularly in Europe, and questioned how the United States would react given the strategic weapons parity between the two nations.

Putin asserted that Ukrainian strikes on Russia with long-range weapons would necessitate Western satellite, intelligence, and military assistance, thus directly involving the West. He also mentioned that deploying French troops to Ukraine would move towards a global conflict. Putin cautioned smaller NATO countries in Europe to consider their limited land areas and dense populations before discussing strikes deep into Russian territory.

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022, has severely strained relations with the West, resulting in the worst diplomatic crisis in 60 years and escalating into a highly dangerous phase. The conflict has caused tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian deaths, displaced millions, and devastated entire neighborhoods and cities.

Russia controls 18% of Ukraine and has recently opened a new front in the Kharkiv region, sparking debate in the West on further actions after providing Ukraine with hundreds of billions of dollars in aid, weapons, and intelligence.

While Western leaders and Ukraine downplay Russia's warnings of a broader war, Ukraine insists on the right to strike behind Russian lines, including Russian territory, to defend itself.

However, Russian officials warn that their patience is waning after repeated Ukrainian attacks on Russian cities, oil refineries, and even parts of its nuclear early warning system.

Regarding the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Putin stated that the only legitimate authority in Ukraine is its parliament and suggested that its head should assume power. Zelenskiy has not faced an election due to the imposition of martial law following the invasion, despite his term having expired.