Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on June 5 that Russia could provide advanced long-range weapons to Western adversaries in an "asymmetric" response to Ukrainian missile strikes into Russian territory.
Putin, speaking in rare press conference with foreign news organizations at Russia's annual economic forum in St Petersburg, said Russia was thinking of delivering such weapons to regions of the world from which they could strike the countries that are supplying weapons to Ukraine.
"If someone thinks it is possible to supply such weapons to a warzone to attack our territory and create problems for us, why don't we have the right to supply weapons of the same class to regions of the world where there will be strikes on sensitive facilities of those [Western] countries?" Putin asked.
"That is, the response can be asymmetric. We will think about it," he told reporters.
His remarks came after U.S. President Joe Biden last week gave Ukraine the go-ahead to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending the eastern city of Kharkiv. Germany announced a similar change in policy shortly afterward.
The changes followed pleas from Ukraine to allow its forces to defend itself against attacks originating from Russian territory, and after pressure from some European leaders.
Russia in recent weeks has stepped up strikes on civilian targets in the northeastern region of Kharkiv and in the eastern region of Donetsk.
Putin warned that Western arms deliveries to Ukraine were "a very dangerous step," especially if donors are "controlling" use of the weapons.
He specifically warned Germany, saying that talk of it sending missiles capable of hitting targets on Russian territory "definitively destroys Russian-German relations."
On the use of nuclear weapons, Putin cited Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which says if Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is threatened "we consider it possible for us to use all means at our disposal."
Putin also reiterated his claim that Russia "did not start the war," blaming a pro-Western revolution in 2014.
Putin has falsely claimed that months of massive and mostly peaceful protests that began in 2013 and lasted into early 2014 on Kyiv’s Independence Square were a U.S.-backed coup. The protests resulted in the ouster of Russian-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych, but not before a crackdown that left more than 100 people dead.
Russia's response was to illegally annex Crimea and back a separatist rebellion in the east of the country.
Eight years later, in February 2022, despite weeks of warnings that Russia risked isolation and serious financial consequences if it invaded Ukraine, Moscow sent its forces into the country in a full-scale invasion.
Putin was also asked about the U.S. presidential election and what a victory for former President Donald Trump or incumbent President Joe Biden would mean for U.S.-Russia relations.
"For the most part, we do not care" who wins the U.S. election, he said, saying that Russia did not expect the November 5 election to change U.S. policy toward Russia, and Russia will work with any president the American people elect.
Putin also said Russia and the United States were in contact over a possible prisoner exchange that would free jailed U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested on espionage charges last year.
"The relevant services in the U.S. and Russia are in constant contact with one another and of course they will decide only on the basis of reciprocity," Putin said.
There was no mention of other Americans currently behind bars in Russia, including RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.