Deployment of missiles

Putin: Then NATO is “at war with Russia” …

Vladimir Putin is increasing the pressure on NATO states.

(Bild: AP/Alexander Kazakov)

Vladimir Putin has once again outlined his famous "Red Lines" and made it clear: according to him, Western approval of the use of extensive weapons against targets in Russia by Ukraine would be tantamount to an active declaration of war.

"This would change the nature of the conflict considerably. It would mean that NATO states are at war with Russia," Putin told a reporter from state television on Thursday.

If this decision is taken, "it would be nothing less than the direct involvement of NATO countries in the war in Ukraine". Putin apparently fears that the security alliance will give Kiev permission to use long-range weapons against targets in Russia.

Should Kiev receive the green light, Russia would "make the appropriate decisions based on the threats we will face, taking into account the changed nature of the conflict", Putin continued.

Important date on Friday
The issue is also likely to be discussed at a meeting between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden in Washington on Friday. In Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi once again campaigned for the release. Until now, the USA has limited the use of its weapons against Russia to defending against the Russian offensive against the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, because it fears an escalation.

However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to Kiev on Wednesday that Washington would examine Ukraine's military demands "with urgency".

Kiev on the defensive
Ukraine is still in a difficult military situation: this is partly due to Russia's continued air sovereignty. Russian bombers and fighter jets can attack Ukrainian positions, as well as cities and important infrastructure objects, especially energy supplies, from a great distance. Ukraine does not have enough anti-aircraft weapons to intercept all attacks.

Kiev is therefore insisting on being allowed to fight the Russian air force on its own territory. This can only be done efficiently with missiles from NATO partners.

Putin ups the ante
The Kremlin assumes that Ukraine will be allowed to carry out this operation against Russian territory. "Most likely, all these decisions have already been made," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov according to Russian agencies. Putin has now significantly raised the stakes.