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Join NowRussia-Ukraine war: The world is holding its breath as tensions between Moscow and Washington have exploded to their most dangerous levels yet. In a stark and chilling ultimatum, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that any move by the West to supply Ukraine with long-range weapons like the Tomahawk cruise missile will be met with a response that is nothing short of “overwhelming and stunning.”
Putin’s thunderous warning came as he responded to journalists’ questions about the growing possibility of Ukraine obtaining advanced weaponry capable of striking deep inside Russian territory. This dramatic escalation unfolds against the backdrop of a complete diplomatic collapse, marked by the last-minute cancellation of a proposed Budapest summit between Putin and US President Donald Trump, and a fresh wave of crippling US sanctions against Russia’s energy sector.
The Kremlin’s Fury: “The US is Our Enemy”
While Putin’s language was strategically severe, his notoriously hawkish predecessor, Dmitry Medvedev, ripped away all diplomatic pretenses. In a furious statement, Medvedev, who now serves as the powerful Deputy Chairman of Russia’s National Security Council, branded the new American sanctions as a direct “Act of War” against Russia.
“For anyone who still had any illusions, let’s be clear,” Medvedev wrote, his words dripping with contempt. “The United States is our enemy. And their talkative ‘peacemaker’ [Trump] is now fully on the path of war against Russia.”
He continued, suggesting the diplomatic charade was over: “This decision is an act of war against Russia. Trump has now fully joined with a completely insane Europe… The positive aspect of this is clear. Now, we can attack [in Ukraine] without caring about unnecessary negotiations and achieve victory wherever possible—on the ground, not behind some table.”
A Perfect Storm: Canceled Summit and Crippling Sanctions
The crisis ignited after President Trump abruptly announced on Wednesday the cancellation of a high-stakes summit with Putin that was scheduled to take place in Budapest. Just hours later, the United States imposed devastating new sanctions on two of Russia’s oil giants, Lukoil and Rosneft. These companies are the lifeblood of the Russian economy, responsible for over 50% of the nation’s oil production.
The move comes as Ukraine has been desperately lobbying the United States for Tomahawk cruise missiles. With a staggering range of nearly 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), these US Navy-grade weapons would give Kyiv an unprecedented ability to strike strategic targets deep within Russia. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has tried to offer assurances, promising the missiles would only be used against Russian military installations.
Putin’s grave statement makes it clear that such promises mean nothing to Moscow.
A Measured Menace and a Warning to Trump
Despite the explosive situation, Putin projected a calm but firm demeanor, framing the sanctions as just another failed attempt at coercion. “No self-respecting country can bow to external pressure, especially a country like Russia,” he stated, reminding reporters that most sanctions were imposed during Trump’s first term.
He subtly suggested that Trump, not he, was the one who blinked, revealing that Trump had initiated the proposal for a meeting during a phone call on October 16. “We believe the meeting has not been canceled, but merely postponed,” Putin added, maintaining a sliver of hope. “We believe that dialogue is better than any dispute or war.”
However, he ended with a veiled threat aimed directly at the White House. He warned that American sanctions on Russian crude oil would backfire catastrophically on US consumers, who would feel the pain of skyrocketing global oil prices—a dangerous prospect for a president facing a crucial election.
With this, Putin has drawn a blood-red line. Any Tomahawk missile strikes on Russian soil will trigger a dangerous and unpredictable retaliation, pushing the world one step closer to a direct confrontation between nuclear superpowers.
