Nuclear confrontation looms: Is the west forcing Putin's hand?

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has warned that lifting long-range missile restrictions on Ukraine would mean that Nato countries would be at war with Russia. Taking questions from reporters in Moscow, Putin said: 'If this decision is made, it will mean nothing less than the direct participation of Nato countries, the United States, and European countries in the war in Ukraine.' That would mean they were 'fighting Russia', he added.