There is no disputing that Ukraine would be within its rights under international law to use long-range weapons on targets within Russia. The obvious reality is that Russia already uses its own long-range weapons against Ukraine, with disastrous consequences for civilian lives and infrastructure.
The question is, whether it should. The weapons at issue are supplied by Western governments, which is why President Zelensky is seeking to obtain permission to use them inside Russia. And that is why the Russian president has declared that their use would mean that Russia would be at war with Nato. He also suggests that they could not be activated without Nato military assistance. Striking targets well inside Russia therefore, would mean a dangerous escalation in the conflict, with at least the possibility that Russia would take direct retaliation of some kind against Nato members.
