Article: Russia's President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning to European countries that are contemplating granting permission to Ukraine for launching strikes on Russian territory. Speaking during his visit to Uzbekistan on Tuesday, Putin cautioned that there would be "serious consequences" if Western weapons were utilized in attacks against Russia.

Putin specifically targeted European nations, particularly smaller countries with densely populated territories, urging them to consider the gravity of their actions. He stated, "They should remember that they are countries with small, densely populated territories... This is a factor they should keep in mind before talking about striking Russia."

The Russian President's remarks came in response to an increasing number of European leaders expressing support for Ukraine's offensive against Russian targets. During a meeting of defense ministers on Tuesday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell remarked that it is "perfectly possible" for Ukraine to launch strikes on Russian soil without contradicting the laws of war. Borrell emphasized the need to balance the risk of escalation with Ukraine's right to defend itself.

Support from European countries for Ukraine's offensive continued to grow, with Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren stating that the Netherlands would not hinder Ukraine from attacking Russian territories. Ollongren expressed hope that "other countries that have different positions will change that." Hanno Pevkur, Estonia's defense minister, echoed these sentiments, criticizing Russia's incursions into Ukrainian territory and asserting that Ukrainians should not be fighting with their "hands behind their back."

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has urged NATO officials to reconsider the prohibition on Ukraine using Western-supplied weapons to strike "legitimate targets" outside its borders. Stoltenberg's call for reassessment follows debates within the Biden administration regarding the policy surrounding Ukraine's use of American-made weapons to strike inside Russia.

As tensions continue to rise between Russia and Ukraine, the positions of European countries and NATO on Ukraine's offensive are being closely scrutinized. The decision to grant Ukraine permission to use weapons against Russia could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability and the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.