The Russian president Vladimir Putin warned last week that granting Ukraine permission to launch long-range Storm Shadow missiles would put the West at war with his country. “It would substantially change the very essence, the nature of the conflict,” he said.
What was not communicated, however, was how the Kremlin would respond. “We will take corresponding decisions based on the threats to us that will be created,” Putin added.
The West has faced down such intimidation before. Putin warned of dire consequences after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Now, the prospect of Kyiv firing the Anglo-French cruise missiles into Russia has once again raised the question of nuclear warfare after months of “ramped up” threats from Russia, said William Courtney, a former US