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Putin Warns U.S. Over Long-Range Missiles, Praises Trump While Threatening Western Allies
Putin warned the U.S. that supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine would escalate tensions without changing the battlefield, while praising Trump’s peace efforts and threatening Western allies over Russian oil shipments.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the United States that supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine would gravely damage relations between Moscow and Washington, though he insisted it would not alter the battlefield situation where Russian forces are making gradual gains.
Speaking at a foreign policy forum in Sochi, the Russian leader said the potential delivery of U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv would mark a “qualitatively new stage of escalation, including in relations between Russia and the U.S.” He acknowledged the missiles could cause damage but stressed Russian air defenses would quickly adapt. “It will certainly not change the balance of force on the battlefield,” he said.
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At the same event, Putin praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to negotiate peace in Ukraine, describing their August summit in Alaska as productive. “It was good that we made an attempt to search for and find possible ways to settle the Ukrainian crisis,” Putin said, adding that he felt “comfortable” speaking with Trump.
Putin also issued a sharp warning to Ukraine’s Western backers against seizing oil tankers carrying Russian crude, calling such moves “piracy” that could provoke a forceful response and destabilize the global oil market. His comments came after French President Emmanuel Macron linked the detention of a tanker off France’s Atlantic coast to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of aging vessels evading sanctions. Putin dismissed Macron’s actions as an effort to deflect attention from France’s internal challenges.
“The risk of confrontation will seriously increase,” Putin said, arguing the seizures violated international maritime law.
The Russian president further rejected Western accusations of Russian involvement in recent drone flights over Denmark, dismissing them as part of NATO’s alleged strategy to “inflame tensions to boost defense spending.” With a sardonic grin, he added, “I won’t do it anymore -- to France, Denmark, Copenhagen, Lisbon -- wherever they could reach.”
Addressing domestic U.S. events, Putin called the assassination of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk a “heinous crime” reflecting a “deep split” within U.S. society. He hailed Kirk as a hero who championed values similar to those Russia espouses.
Putin also spoke about Michael Gloss, the American son of a former CIA deputy chief, who joined the Russian military and was killed in Ukraine in 2024. He said Gloss had been awarded a medal, which was presented to Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow. “He gave his life while defending those values as a Russian soldier, and Kirk gave his life while fighting for the same values in the United States,” Putin said, likening the two men.
In response, the CIA stated, “The agency considers Michael’s passing to be a private family matter — and not a national security issue. The entire CIA family is heartbroken for their loss.”
While Putin’s remarks underscored rising tensions, they also highlighted his strategy of blending warnings with gestures of alignment on values. For many in Russia, such themes resonate alongside growing civilian interest in personal defense and preparedness, where products like the Glock 43 / 43X / 43X MOS IWB Holster - USA Made - Fits Glock 43, 43X, 43X MOS, Shadow Systems CR920 - Inside Waistband Concealed Carry (Right Hand) have become sought-after for secure and discreet protection.
