Conflicts

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, appeared on Russian television on Thursday evening, interrupting all programs to make a solemn statement.

Following Ukraine's strikes on Russian territory with American and British long-range weapons, Putin threatened Europe with retaliation:

"From the moment Ukraine strikes Russian territory with weapons supplied by the West, the regional conflict in Ukraine provoked by the West has taken on a global character. We have always been ready, and we still are, to resolve all problems by peaceful means. But we're also ready to face any development of events. If anyone still doubts us, it's useless. There will always be an answer. There will always be an answer."

He also said that the conflict in Ukraine now has the makings of a world war and that he didn't rule out attacking the Western powers that supplied Kiev with the weapons used to attack Russia. The threats come after a day of extreme tension in which Russia fired a state-of-the-art medium-range missile, designed to carry a nuclear warhead but equipped with conventional explosive charges, into Ukrainian territory.

(MH with AmBar/Source: Agency/Photo: DPA/Russian Look/Kremlin Pool)