Putin warns that Russia could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets

STREET. PETERSBURG, Russia — President Vladimir Putin He warned Germany on Wednesday that Ukraine’s use of its weapons to attack targets inside Russia would mark a “dangerous step,” and said Moscow could in turn provide long-range weapons to others to attack Western targets.

Such an action by the West will further undermine international security and could lead to “very serious problems.” he said.

“That would mark their direct participation in the war against the Russian Federation, and we reserve the right to act in the same way,” Putin added.

Since using such Western weapons to attack Russian territory involves military personnel from the respective countries controlling the missiles and selecting targets, Putin said, Moscow could take “asymmetrical” measures. That could include handing those weapons over to others to target facilities of the respective countries in other parts of the world, he added.

“If they consider it possible to bring such weapons into the combat zone to launch attacks on our territory and create problems for us, why don’t we have the right to supply weapons of the same type to some regions of the world where they can?” “Will it be used to launch attacks against sensitive facilities of countries that do so with Russia,” he said.

“We’ll think about it,” he said.

Germany joined the United States. recently by authorizing Ukraine to attack some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying to kyiv. German tank deliveries to Ukraine came as a shock to many in Russia, he said.

“Now, if they use missiles to attack facilities on Russian territory, they will completely ruin Russian-German relations,” he said.

On Wednesday, a Western official and a US senator He said Ukraine has used American weapons to attack inside Russia under guidance recently approved by President Joe Biden. Allows US weapons to be used for the limited purpose of defense Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine. The official was not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Answering questions from international journalists for the first time since his inauguration last month for a fifth term, Putin also said that nothing will change in terms of relations between Russia and the United States, regardless of whether Biden or Donald Trump wins the presidential election. Americans in November.

“We will work with any president the American people choose,” Putin said, speaking on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

“I say this with all sincerity: I would not say that we believe that after the elections something will change in American policy on the Russian trajectory,” he added. “We don’t believe it. We believe that nothing so serious will happen.”

Putin also said Trump’s felony conviction in his hush money trial last week was the result of “using the judicial system as part of political infighting.”

The Russian leader faced questions on a variety of topics from senior leaders at international news agencies, including The Associated Press, although more than two years of fighting in Ukraine dominated the session.

When asked about Russian military losses, Putin said no country would reveal such information during hostilities, but claimed, without providing details, that Ukraine’s casualties are five times higher than Russia’s.

He also said that Ukraine has more than 1,300 Russian soldiers in captivity, while more than 6,400 Ukrainian soldiers are held in Russia.

The claims could not be independently verified.

Putin has used the annual forum as a showcase to promote the development of Russia and seek investors. While meetings with journalists were part of previous sessions, he has not taken questions from Western journalists at the St. Petersburg event since sending troops to Ukraine.

Last year, journalists from countries Russia considers hostile (including the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union) were not invited, and Western officials and investors were also kept away from the session after wide-ranging sanctions were imposed. reach Moscow through Ukraine.

—-

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed.