Putin voices Russia's possible response to supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the more long-range weapons the West supplies to Ukraine, the further Russia will have to move the threat away from its borders.

"The more long-range Western systems are supplied to Ukraine, the further we will be forced to move the threat away from our borders. It's natural," Putin said in Moscow, addressing the Russian parliament -- the Federal Assembly.

He added that Russia does not fight against Ukrainian people but against elites that "serve the interests" of the third countries.

Putin also noted that Russia has not started the war but has used the force to end the conflict.

He criticized the reforms in the West regarding family life, saying: "Millions of people in the West understand that they are being led to a real spiritual catastrophe, the elites, frankly speaking, are simply going crazy, and it seems that this is no longer treatable."

The presidential address to the Federal Assembly is one of the main political events in Russia, during which the Russian leader outlines the state of affairs in the country, its achievements, failures, and tasks.