U.S. President, Joe Bidenhas authorized for the first time the use of long-range missiles supplied by your country to Ukraine to carry out attacks within Russiaas published this Sunday The New York Times and the Washington Postciting White House sources.
These same sources claim that these weapons are likely to be used initially against Russian and North Korean troops in defense of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia.
According to the TimesBiden’s decision involves a major shift in U.S. policy. The move has divided his advisors and the change comes two months before the president-elect’s Donald Trump takes office, having pledged to limit support for Ukraine.
The authorization for the Ukrainians to use long-range missiles, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems or ATACMS, comes in. response to Russia’s decision to induct North Korean troops. into the fight, they told the Times sources consulted.
The ATACMS is a supersonic guided missile system that can carry either a cluster or conventional bomb warhead that has a maximum range of about 305 kilometers.
Although these from the White House say they do not expect the change to fundamentally alter the course of the war, one goal of the decision is to send a message to the North Koreans that their forces are vulnerable and that they should not send more of them.
While the Ukrainians are likely to use the missiles first against Russian and North Korean troops threatening Ukrainian forces in Kursk, Biden could authorize them to use the weapons elsewhere.
The authorization “is going to have a very specific and limited effect.” on the battlefield to prevent a possible escalation, according to another source from The Washington Post.
Other sources have indicated that Biden intends by this gesture to to strengthen Ukraine’s position with a view to a possible negotiation with Moscow once Trump comes to power in January.
It’s Putin’s red line
Since long ago, Vladimir Putin had drawn as a red line the use of long-range missiles against its territory. The Russian president would consider this step as a NATO declaration of war, which would generate a new scenario.
“It would substantially change the very essence, the nature of the conflict,” Vladimir Putin said in September. “This will mean that NATO countries, the US and European states, Are fighting with Russia.” the dictator added.
“No matter who tries to stand in our way or create threats to our country and our people, you must know that Russia will respond immediately“, Putin said, ending with an ominous phrase: “The consequences will be like you have never seen in your entire history.”
In the background, hovers the veiled but constant threat from Russia, since it began its invasion of Ukraine, of using nuclear weapons in its offensive operation.