Russia had previously warned that if NATO permits Ukraine to conduct strikes inside the country, it would be viewed as direct involvement in the war.
Unnamed U.S. officials have claimed that President Joe Biden has given authorization for Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by the United States to target locations in the Russian region of Kursk, currently under Ukrainian occupation in the ongoing conflict.
Last year, following North Korea providing Russia with long-range ballistic missiles, the Biden administration had already approved the use of the long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMs) by Ukraine for targets within its territories, including in Russian-occupied Crimea.
The officials do not believe that allowing the use of the missiles will significantly alter the course of the conflict.
They noted that Biden’s decision to lift restrictions for Kursk was partly driven by the need for a robust response to Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops on the frontlines. The president also expressed concerns that Ukrainian forces could be overpowered without utilizing the missiles.
These officials and others familiar with the situation were not authorized to discuss the decision publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, as reported by The Associated Press on Nov. 17.
The White House declined The Epoch Times’ request for comment.
“As always, we don’t want to escalate but Ukraine’s our partner. We have to stand with them. They have to be able to defend themselves,” she said.
According to the AP report, there is not unanimous support for the decision within the U.S. government. President-elect Donald Trump has also stated that his administration will aim to de-escalate or end the conflict. As of the time of publication, Trump or his campaign has not publicly responded to the reports.
Zelenskyy has long sought permission to use long-range weapons within Russian territories, which Biden had previously opposed. At the time, Biden expressed concerns that allowing U.S. missiles to be used in Russian territories could lead to direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia for the United States and other NATO members.
The United Kingdom and France had also supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles with a range of approximately 155 miles, pledging to adhere to U.S. restrictions on missile use despite supporting Zelenskyy’s requests to strike Russia.
America remains Ukraine’s most crucial ally in the conflict, providing over $56.2 billion in security assistance since Russian forces invaded in February 2022.
Despite concerns about Russia’s potential response, the Biden administration has repeatedly postponed the provision of advanced weapons requested by Ukraine, only agreeing under pressure from Kyiv, its supporters, and in consultation with allies.
This includes initially rejecting Zelenskyy’s appeals for advanced tanks, Patriot air defense systems, and F-16 fighter jets, among other systems.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Please rewrite this sentence for me.
Source link
