The West appears to have not yet developed a coordinated position regarding the risk of a serious escalation of hostilities.
Photo: REUTERS.
Vladimir Putin’s statement that attacks on Russian territory with long-range Western missiles would mean the direct involvement of NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine took the West by surprise. At least there has not yet been a clear reaction from officials there.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not comment directly on the Russian president’s remarks. “I’m not going to get into hypotheticals. I’m not going to get into internal politics,” she said, repeating the old Washington mantra: “Ukraine has the right to self-defense and Moscow can end the conflict at any time.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer immediately echoed this. “kyiv has the right to self-defence” and Russia “could instantly end the conflict,” he replied to journalists’ request for his opinion on Putin’s statement. It is true that Britain “is not seeking any conflict with Russia,” he added.
The West has apparently not yet developed a coordinated position regarding the risk of a serious escalation of hostilities. This is most likely exactly what US President Joe Biden and Keir Starmer, who has arrived in the US capital, will do today at their meeting in Washington. The British channel ITV offered a ray of hope, reporting that it understood that Starmer had “made it clear” that kyiv would not be given permission for long-range strikes against Russia after his meeting with Biden today.
But while officials remain silent, social media abroad is sounding the alarm.
“The red line is clear as day. The ball is now in NATO’s court. Let us pray that they (NATO – Ed.) know what they are doing,” wrote the famous Irish blogger Chey Bowes on the X network. He expressed hope that the West would heed Putin’s warning and not endanger Europe.
But American blogger Wall Street Silver seems to have completely lost faith in the common sense of American leaders and makes a gloomy prediction: “Biden and Kamala will start a world war this weekend and allow attacks on Russian territory.”
Billionaire Elon Musk left his bleak comment on this prophecy: “I have a bad feeling about this.”
French politician Florian Philippot said that “NATO wants to start a third world war before Trump is elected, which will be a disaster… Putin understood this perfectly. This is precisely the goal of allowing longer-range missile strikes on Russian territory.” In his opinion, the Western states understand that they have no other option but to further escalate the situation.
And former US Army officer Daniel Davis, commenting on Vladimir Putin’s words, warns directly: “We are literally playing with fire by taking such steps,” referring to the intention to give Kiev the go-ahead to launch attacks with Western weapons on targets deep inside Russian territory.
