The US missiles known as the Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS. Photo: AFP/VNA

On September 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out that a potential decision to use Western long-range weapons against Russia would mean nothing less than the direct involvement of the United States and other NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine. This would drastically alter the nature of this conflict, and Russia would be forced to take appropriate measures in response to the escalating threats, the Russian president warned.

In an interview with RIA Novosti, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma (Russian House of Representatives) Leonid Slutsky warned that the US allowing Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles to attack Russian territory, if confirmed, would mean Washington's direct involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and would therefore lead to the toughest reaction from Moscow.