The United States will not allow Ukraine to use ATACMS long-range ballistic missiles (ATACMS), which Ukraine uses in border areas with Russia, in order to prevent further escalation of the conflict, The Times reported.

According to The Times, the US may allow Ukraine to use British and French long-range missiles to hit targets in Russia, and London and Paris have already agreed to that.

The decision, the magazine adds, specifically refers to the French equivalent of ATACMS, the Scalp missiles, as well as the British-French-made Storm Shadow missiles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier yesterday that the direct participation of Western countries in the conflict in Ukraine will change its essence and added that Russia will be forced to make decisions based on the threats thus created.

- This will mean that NATO, the USA and European countries are at war with Russia. And if that happens, then, taking into account the changed nature of the conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created, Putin said, as reported by Russian media.

Putin noted that NATO countries are not only discussing the possibility of the Ukrainian army using missiles with different ranges, but also direct participation in the war.

- Only NATO military personnel can control the flights of these missile systems. This is possible only with the help of satellite intelligence, which Ukraine does not have. The point is to decide whether NATO countries should be directly involved in the conflict or not, Putin said.

He added that the West already participates in attacks on Russian territory with the help of drones and other means used by Ukraine, but "when it comes to the use of high-precision, long-range Western-made weapons, it is a completely different story."