'Constant Escalation Can Lead to...': Putin Warns West Against Proving Military Aid to Ukraine

Moscow: Russian President Vlimir Putin warned West on Tuesday that NATO members in Europe were playing with fire by proposing to let Ukraine use Western weapons to strike deep inside Russia, which he said could trigger a global conflict.

More than two years into deliest land war in Europe since World War Two, Putin has increasingly spoken of risk of a much broer global conflict as West grapples with what to do about vance of Russian troops in Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told Economist that alliance members should let Ukraine strike deep into Russia with Western weapons, a view supported by some NATO members but not by United States.

"Constant escalation can le to serious consequences," Putin told reporters in Tashkent. "If se serious consequences occur in Europe, how will United States behave, bearing in mind our parity in field of strategic weapons?"

"It's hard to say - do y want a global conflict?"

Putin said Ukrainian strikes on Russia with long-range weapons would need Western satellite, intelligence and military help - so West would be directly involved. He said sending French troops to Ukraine would be a step towards a global conflict.

Speaking of NATO members in Europe, Putin said that small countries re "should be aware of what y are playing with", as y h small land areas and very dense populations.

"This is a factor that y should keep in mind before talking about striking deep into Russian territory," Putin said.

Russian vances Trigger Debate in West

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine touched off worst breakdown in relations with West for 60 years, and crisis is escalating into what diplomats say is its most dangerous phase to date.

invasion has caused deaths of tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians, driven millions to flee abro, and reduced neighbourhoods and whole cities to rubble.

Russia, which controls 18% of Ukraine, is vancing and has opened a new front in Kharkiv region, triggering a debate in West about what else it can do after giving Kyiv hundreds of billions of dollars in aid, weapons and intelligence.

Western leers and Ukraine have played down Russia's warnings about risk of a broer war involving Russia, world's biggest nuclear power, and NATO, world's most powerful military alliance led by United States.

Ukraine says it should be able to hit behind Russian lines, including against Russian sovereign territory, to fight back.

But Russian officials say Moscow's patience is wearing thin after repeated Ukrainian attacks on Russian cities, oil refineries, and, in recent days, even against elements of its nuclear early warning system.

Asked by Russian state television about legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Putin said only legitimate authority in Ukraine now was parliament, and that its he should be given power.

Zelenskiy has not faced an election despite expiry of his term due to martial law which was imposed after invasion.