Putin Warns of Escalation if Western Arms Used Against Russia

President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia might supply long-range weapons to other nations to target Western countries in response to NATO allies allowing Ukraine to use their arms against Russian territory. He also reiterated Russia's readiness to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty is threatened. Putin's comments came during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he criticized Western involvement in the Ukraine conflict and discussed various geopolitical issues, including U.S.-Russia relations and the imprisonment of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.