Russian President, Vladimir Putin, confirmed on Thursday that if Westerners allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles obtained by Kiev to strike Russian territory, this would mean that “NATO countries are at war against Russia.”

Putin said in a video clip posted by a journalist close to the Russian presidency on Telegram, “If this decision is taken, it will mean at least direct involvement of NATO countries in the war in Ukraine. This will change the nature of the conflict itself. This will mean that NATO countries are in War against Russia.

Ukraine demands its Western backers to allow it to strike targets deep in Russian territory using missiles it received from them.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday criticized the "delay" in deciding this case.

The United States has rejected this matter so far, for fear of an escalation that could lead to a direct conflict with Moscow, especially since the two countries are nuclear powers.

But US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken promised, on Wednesday, from Kiev to study Ukraine's military demands "urgently."

US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are scheduled to discuss this issue on Friday.