Putin Warns U.S. Against Authorising Ukrainian Strikes Inside Russia

Wires carrying comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin issuing a warning to the US against authorising Ukrainian strikes on targets within the Russian Federation.

• Putin: "We had warned them not to make strikes on Belgorod... escalation could lead to serious consequences." Putin asks, "do they want a global conflict?"
• Putin: "West should understand what it is playing with... this is serious, we are closely watching it."
• The Biden administation, and many European backers of Ukraine, - notably Germany and Belgium - have long opposed Kyiv using US/EU-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia.
• However, that sentiment has shifted with the UK lifting restrictions on its long-range Storm Shadow missiles and NATO Sec Gen Jens Stoltenberg stating to a NATO parliamentary assembly yesterday: “When we have delivered weapons to Ukraine it’s actually not ours anymore, it’s the Ukrainians’ and they have the right to self defense, including hitting legitimate military targets outside Ukraine and in Russia."
• EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also noted this week that such a move is acceptable under international law because Moscow’s attacks are originating inside Russian territory.
• Putin adds: "We don't see desire from United States about strategic talks..." referring to last week's news that Moscow was open to peace talks. The US dismissed talks of a ceasefire noting that under Russia's terms, Ukraine would have to cede about one-fifth of it's territory to Russia.
• Kyiv argued it was likely a ploy to undermine a June 15-16 peace summit in Switzerland to which Moscow hasn't been invited.