This move has provoked a stern response from Vladimir Putin, who launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile as a stark warning to Western powers. However, opinions are split on whether Putin's actions are mere posturing or if they pose a real threat as he seeks to reassert Russian power.

The new ballistic missile fired by Russia struck a military-industrial facility in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, but its real mission was delivering a deadly new message to NATO.

Russia's Dmitry Medvedev warned of nuclear war if the U.S transfers nuclear weapons to Ukraine: "The consequences are obvious."