Moscow – President Vladimir Putin has officially put Washington on notice, delivering a severe and direct warning that the provision of Tomahawk long-range missiles to Ukraine would cross a fundamental red line and have dire consequences.
The notice was delivered during a meeting with his military command, where Putin stated that such a move would trigger a “qualitatively new stage of escalation.” He based this on the assertion that U.S. military personnel would have to be involved in their operation.
The consequence for crossing this line, Putin made clear, would be the “destruction” of the relationship between the two global powers. This places the decision squarely in the hands of U.S. policymakers, who must now weigh the risks of such a significant escalation.
Putin’s warning was bolstered by his claims of military success in Ukraine. He announced the capture of almost 5,000 square kilometers of territory in 2025, a gain that he says has given Moscow the “complete strategic initiative.”
While Washington mulls its options, Kyiv is tackling a different problem. President Zelenskyy has accused Russia of using its oil tanker fleet for spying and sabotage, highlighting the ever-expanding and unconventional nature of the conflict.
