MOSCOW/KYIV - Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday that by providing Ukraine with long-range weapons, Western countries risk involving directly in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In such circumstances, Russia would be forced to make "appropriate decisions" based on the new threats, Putin was quoted by Russian media as saying.

Ukraine has been pleading with its Western allies for it to use their missiles, including long-range ones, to fire deep into Russian territory, according to Western media reports.

READ MORE: Putin: Russian forces must be prepared to counter any military threat

"In fact, only service people from NATO countries can make flight assignments to these missile systems. Ukrainian service people cannot do that," Putin told Russian state TV.

"So this is not a question of allowing the Ukrainian regime to attack Russia with these weapons or not. It is a question of deciding whether NATO countries are directly involved in a military conflict or not."

"If this decision is taken, it will mean nothing else than direct participation of NATO countries -- the USA and European countries -- in the war in Ukraine," he said.  

According to a report by Politico, the White House is finalizing a plan to ease restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-donated weapons in battles against Russia, including the use of British long-range missiles that contain American parts to strike targets inside Russia.  

ALSO READ: Drone attacks force flight delays at Moscow airports

Also on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow is prepared to find a peaceful settlement to the Ukraine crisis while the West is not ready for sincere diplomatic dialogues.

Western countries are attempting to do everything possible to control Kyiv through their ultimatums, Lavrov said during a roundtable discussion on Ukraine with ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Academy.

The West and its allies view Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace formula as the only negotiating proposal, he said.

Lavrov further said that NATO specialists were providing Kyiv with reconnaissance data to help identify targets deep within Russian territory, including civilian infrastructure.

ALSO READ: Iran summons European envoys over claims of arms supply to Russia

On the latest development of the conflict, Lavrov said Russian forces were continuing to push Ukrainian troops out of Russia's Kursk region bordering Ukraine.

Early Thursday, 14 civilians were injured as Russia struck Ukraine's northeastern city of Konotop with combat drones, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement.

Seven apartment buildings, a private residence, a bank, and healthcare and educational institutions were damaged in the attack, it said.

The attack was part of a broader overnight assault, in which Russia launched a barrage of 64 combat drones and five missiles, Ukraine's Air Force said.

READ MORE: Real efforts needed to end Ukraine crisis

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said it had destroyed a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet over the Black Sea.