The Biden administration has reportedly given Ukraine permission to use U.S. long-range missile systems against targets inside Russia, but this will take a long time.
prompted According to Ukrainian officials, resisted U.S. officials are concerned about the escalation, with Russian President Vladimir Putin pointing to a direct conflict between NATO and Russia.
background
In February, President Joe Biden
secretly signed off Regarding the transfer of Army tactical missile systems to Ukraine. Department of Defense Spokesperson Lt. Col. Garon Garn said Following Biden's approval, ATACMS was included in a $300 million aid package announced on March 12 and delivered the following month, CNN reported.
American supersonic missiles have a range of up to 290 miles. Ukraine also has the British-made Storm Shadow missile, which has a range of 255 miles.
The United States has blocked the use of such weapons in recent months due to concerns about escalation. However, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in September that the Biden administration was considering excluding Ukraine to begin operations against Russia “as our needs evolve as the battlefield changes.” cited the need to adjust and adapt.
Putin, the country is over.
5,000 nuclear warhead and boast A supersonic missile with a range of 625 miles would be proposed by Blinken, who told reporters, “That would mean NATO countries, the United States, European countries would be at war with Russia.”
President Putin, who invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has argued that the use of ATACMS amounts to direct action on the part of the United States, since U.S. satellite reconnaissance is required for a successful missile attack. he
noticed “Ukrainian military personnel cannot do everything themselves and attack with this missile. It's just technically not possible,” he said in June.
He equated the ATACMS attack with the Department of Defense and the Storm Shadow attack with the British government.
escalation
According to Two U.S. officials and a third source familiar with the decision told Reuters that the Biden administration has authorized Ukraine to use the missile internationally and that the first long-range missile strike is expected to take place within days. confirmed.
US officials
said CNN said the missiles were likely to hit targets in Russia's Kursk region, where Kiev launched a counteroffensive in the summer and where the Russian government recently deployed about 50,000 troops, including North Korean soldiers.
One official said the decision to authorize the use of ATACMS was driven in part by the North Korean military's recent involvement in combat.
“This is an impeachable crime.”
Maintaining a foothold in Kursk with the help of long-range missiles could push Ukraine into crisis.
advantageous negotiating position President Trump should bring Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy and President Putin to the negotiating table in January. new york times shown Ukrainians say they hope to be able to exchange Kursk territory for Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Russian forces.
reaction
Zelensky
noticed “We are deeply grateful to all our partners who support us with air defense systems and missiles. This is a truly global effort,” he said Sunday evening.
“The plan to strengthen Ukraine is a winning plan that I have presented to our partners. One of its key elements is to provide our armed forces with long-range capabilities,” Zelenskiy continued. “There is a lot of talk in today's media that we have received permission to take relative action. But attacks are not carried out with words. These things are not announced. I will tell you.”
Putin's Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov
said Russian state media said: “If such a decision was actually formulated and brought to the attention of the Kiev regime, then, of course, this would be a qualitatively new round of tensions and a qualitatively new round in terms of US involvement.'' This conflict becomes a new situation. ”
washington post
noticed This decision was not entirely unexpected in Moscow.
“The conflict will become even more intense and negotiations will become even more difficult,” said Andrei Kartapolov, a former Russian army officer and chairman of the parliament's defense committee. “We expected them to escalate before the end of Mr. Biden's term, and that was absolutely clear.”
The Biden administration's decision, with just months left in the Democratic president's term, represents a major escalation involving various adversaries, especially China, which is increasingly allied with Russia.
has grown considerably Since President Putin's invasion of Ukraine, he has been paying close attention.
“Ukraine cannot adequately defend itself if one hand is tied behind its back.”
Tens of thousands of North Korean troops are currently fighting Ukrainian forces. North Korea is simply
Defense treaty with Russia However, it has a strong mutual defense agreement with China.
Despite its defense obligations, China emphasized North Korea's presence in Ukraine is “self-inflicted,” and it has shown a reluctance to become directly involved in the conflict. Despite this, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian desperately appealed to the US Foreign Ministry spokesperson for the need to ease tensions.
In response to reports that the United States had authorized the use of military tactical missile systems by Ukraine against Russian-based targets, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said:
said“China's position on the Ukraine issue has always been clear, and the pursuit of an early ceasefire and political solution is in the interests of all parties. Promoting de-escalation of the situation as soon as possible is a top priority.”
The Chinese regime also insisted that Russia, which carried out long-range missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine over the weekend, should pursue de-escalation as well.
Some U.S. lawmakers, including Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss, have expressed support for Ukraine's use of missiles.
said“Biden’s decision to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of ATACMS in Russia is a long-awaited development, but the authorized targets include Russian oil refineries that pump the lifeblood of the Kremlin’s war machine. It is important that
Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker (R) similarly expressed optimism about progress.
states “If initial reports are true, I am encouraged by the prospect of allowing Ukraine to use long-range ATACM missiles supplied by the United States,” he said on Sunday.
Republican Rep. Mike Turner (Ohio)
I wrote“With one hand tied behind its back, Ukraine cannot adequately defend itself. Today's news is long overdue.”
Turner stressed the need to “put pressure on Vladimir Putin” ahead of Trump's inauguration.
Other American lawmakers are less enthusiastic about the possibility of a shootout with Russia.
Congressman Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky)
tweeted“By authorizing long-range missile strikes on Russian soil, Biden is violating unconstitutional laws of war that endangers the lives of all Americans. This is an impeachable crime, but the reality is that he A eviscerated puppet of the Deep State.”
Montana Congressman Matt Rosendale (R)
I wrote“Are American long-range missiles being used to attack Russia? As many as 12,000 North Korean troops are deployed to Russia. When will Congress take back its power and stop this proxy war we're embroiled in? Do you?”
Do you like Blaze News? Avoid censorship and sign up for our newsletter to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Please register here!
