ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — President Vladimir Putin warned Germany on Wednesday that the usage of its guns through Ukraine to strike goals within Russia would mark a “bad step,” and he mentioned Moscow may in flip supply long-range guns to others to strike Western goals.Such motion through the West will additional undermine global safety and may result in “very severe issues.” he mentioned.“That will mark their direct involvement within the struggle in opposition to the Russian Federation, and we reserve the precise to behave the similar means,” Putin added.As a result of the usage of such Western guns for hanging Russian territory comes to army body of workers of the respective international locations controlling the missiles and deciding on goals, Putin mentioned, Moscow may take “asymmetrical” steps. That would come with giving such guns to others to focus on amenities of respective international locations in different places on this planet, he added.“In the event that they imagine it imaginable to ship such guns to the struggle zone to release moves on our territory and create issues for us, why don’t we have now the precise to offer guns of the similar kind to a few areas of the arena the place they are able to be used to release moves on delicate amenities of the international locations that do it to Russia?” he mentioned.”We can consider it,” he saidGermany joined the US just lately in authorizing Ukraine to hit some goals on Russian soil with the long-range guns they’re supplying to Kyiv. The deliveries of German tanks to Ukraine got here as a surprise to many in Russia, he mentioned.“Now in the event that they use missiles to strike amenities at the Russian territory, it’ll utterly wreck Russian-German members of the family,” he mentioned.On Wednesday, a Western legitimate and a U.S. senator mentioned Ukraine has used U.S. guns to strike within Russia beneath newly authorized steerage from President Joe Biden. It permits American palms for use for the restricted goal of shielding Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest town. The legitimate used to be now not licensed to remark publicly at the delicate topic and spoke on situation of anonymity.Taking questions from global reporters for the primary time since his inauguration ultimate month to a 5th time period, Putin additionally mentioned not anything will alternate on the subject of Russia-U.S. members of the family irrespective of whether or not Biden or Donald Trump wins the American presidential election in November.“We can paintings with any president the American folks elect,” Putin mentioned, talking at the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Global Financial Discussion board.“I say completely sincerely, I wouldn’t say that we consider that once the election one thing will alternate at the Russian monitor within the American politics,” he added. “We don’t assume so. We expect not anything that severe will occur.”Putin additionally mentioned Trump’s criminal conviction at his hush cash trial ultimate week used to be the results of “the usage of the courtroom gadget as a part of the inner political battle.”The Russian chief confronted questions about quite a lot of subjects from senior information leaders of global information companies, together with The Related Press, even though the over two years of preventing in Ukraine ruled the consultation.Requested about Russian army losses, Putin mentioned that no nation would expose that knowledge throughout hostilities however claimed with out offering main points that Ukraine’s casualties are 5 occasions more than Russia’s.He additionally mentioned Ukraine has greater than 1,300 Russian troops in captivity, whilst greater than 6,400 Ukrainian squaddies are being held in Russia.The claims may now not be independently verified.Putin has used the once a year discussion board as a exhibit for touting Russia’s building and searching for traders. Whilst conferences with reporters had been a part of earlier periods, he has now not taken questions from Western reporters on the St. Petersburg tournament since sending troops to Ukraine.Closing yr, reporters from international locations that Russia regards as unfriendly — together with the U.S., the U.Okay. and the Ecu Union — weren’t invited, and Western officers and traders additionally prompt transparent of the consultation after wide-ranging sanctions had been imposed on Moscow over Ukraine.—-Related Press author Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed.
