Global Conflict Threat Serious as Putin Intensifies Missile Warnings
Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has issued a stark warning about the potential for global conflict as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to escalate threats against the West. Speaking after a hypersonic ballistic missile strike on Dnipro, Tusk described the situation as entering a “decisive phase” with the threat of worldwide conflict now “serious and real.”
NATO and Ukraine Convene Emergency Talks
The missile launch prompted emergency discussions among NATO and Ukrainian officials. Putin justified the strike as retaliation for Ukraine’s use of British and American long-range missiles on Russian targets. He further warned that Moscow reserved the right to target any Western nation providing such weapons to Ukraine, vowing to deploy the hypersonic missile “in combat conditions.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a “serious response” from the global community, emphasizing the need for consequences to Putin’s aggression. “The world must act decisively,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine is working with allies to bolster air defenses against emerging threats.
Hypersonic Missile Details and Global Reactions
US military officials revealed that Russia’s new missile, dubbed “Oreshnik,” is derived from the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) design. The weapon, which can be equipped with either conventional or nuclear warheads, reached speeds over Mach 11 during its 15-minute flight to Dnipro, Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), the missile carried six warheads, each containing submunitions, demonstrating its devastating potential.
Putin has announced plans to continue testing the missile, claiming it is impervious to interception and pledging to commence mass production. The Pentagon acknowledged the missile’s experimental nature, with Russia believed to possess only a few at this stage.
Revised Nuclear Doctrine Heightens Tensions
On the 1,000th day of the Ukraine invasion, Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine, declaring that any conventional attack on Russia supported by a nuclear-armed nation would be treated as a joint nuclear assault. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Kremlin ally, cautioned against dismissing these developments as mere posturing. “This is no bluff,” Orban warned, suggesting that Russia’s responses could have severe consequences.
Global Stakes in the Ukraine War
The developments underscore escalating stakes in the Ukraine war, as Western nations continue to support Kyiv with advanced weaponry. With threats of nuclear retaliation and the use of hypersonic missiles, the conflict is rapidly approaching a critical and dangerous juncture, demanding immediate and unified global action.
