Moscow – President Vladimir Putin has sent a direct and chilling message to the United States, characterizing the potential supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine as a “qualitatively new” mistake that would have irreversible consequences for their relationship.
Speaking at a meeting with his top military brass, Putin laid out his reasoning: the operational complexity of the missiles would require the direct participation of American military personnel. This, he argued, would transform the conflict into a direct confrontation.
Such a development, he warned, would trigger a “qualitatively new stage of escalation” and would lead to the complete “destruction” of diplomatic ties between Moscow and Washington. The statement serves as one of the Kremlin’s most explicit red lines to date.
This threat was delivered from what Putin perceives as a position of strength. He claimed his forces have seized almost 5,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land this year, giving Russia the “complete strategic initiative” and the upper hand in the war.
While this superpower drama unfolds, Ukraine is dealing with its own set of challenges, including accusations from President Zelenskyy that Russia is using its oil tanker fleet for spying and sabotage, a claim that adds another layer of complexity to the war.