President Vladimir Putin has warned that if the U.S. and its allies allow Ukraine to use long-range Western weapons, it would lead to “war” with Russia. He made this statement as NATO support for Ukraine intensifies, just before a meeting in Washington where this issue will be discussed.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also met with President Joe Biden, reaffirming their support for Ukraine and discussing global security concerns. Meanwhile, the U.S. and its allies are becoming more open to allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles, which has angered Moscow. Putin emphasized that such a move would involve NATO directly in the conflict, potentially escalating it into a full-scale war.

Read more: Ukraine’s “Dragon Drones” Unleash Molten Metal on Russian Military positions.

Putin also mentioned that Ukraine relies on NATO’s military personnel to operate long-range missiles, further entangling the alliance in the war. Echoing these sentiments, Russian officials, including Vyacheslav Volodin and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, reinforced Putin’s message, warning of serious consequences.

Despite the West repeatedly crossing Russia’s “red lines” without triggering a major response, Putin’s recent comments indicate a potential shift in Russia’s stance. Moscow has warned that lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of these weapons would escalate the conflict.

The Kremlin has consistently portrayed the war as a confrontation between Russia and the West. Though Putin has previously threatened nuclear retaliation if these lines were crossed, the Kremlin has not yet acted on such threats.

As the fighting continues, particularly in the Kursk region after Ukraine’s incursion, Moscow is launching counterattacks to retake territory lost to Ukrainian forces. Meanwhile, Kyiv is pushing for more access to long-range Western weapons to strike deep into Russian territory, a move that Western allies have been cautious about until recent weeks.