Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that U.S. supplies of long-range missiles to Ukraine could severely strain relations between Moscow and Washington, although he claimed such weapons would not alter the battlefield dynamics. During a forum in Sochi, he emphasized Russia’s ongoing military advances despite NATO support for Kyiv and dismissed Western allegations of aggressive Russian actions as distractions from domestic issues. Putin also praised former U.S. President Trump for his efforts in negotiating peace and reiterated Russia’s readiness to respond to perceived Western “piracy” regarding shipping oil. This situation underscores the escalating tensions in international relations, revealing the complexities of military support and strategic calculations that could reshape geopolitical alignments in the region.