Biden approves long-range strikes: Tipping point in Ukraine war
The Biden administration has agreed to permit Ukraine to use American weapons for strikes deep into Russia. In September, Vladimir Putin cautioned against such a scenario. The dictator threatened that if the West allowed Ukraine to hit Russian territory with long-range missiles, it would signify that "NATO countries are at war with Russia."
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Regarding the potential Western approval for using long-range missiles to target locations in Russia, Putin was asked about this in September in St. Petersburg. At that time, discussions on this topic were still ongoing.
"We are witnessing an attempt to shift concepts. We are not contemplating allowing or prohibiting the Kyiv regime to attack Russian territory. The regime conducts its attacks as it does - using drones and other means," Putin stated. "But when it comes to employing Western precision long-range weapons, it's an entirely different matter," he emphasised.
In his opinion, Ukrainians are not capable of independently using Western long-range weapons to target locations in Russia. They require intelligence data from satellites, which Ukraine does not possess. They would, therefore, need to obtain it from American or European satellites. "Ukrainian pilots are also not capable of launching these missiles from their aircraft," he argued.
According to Putin, the discussion is therefore not about whether to grant Ukraine permission to use Western long-range weapons, but whether NATO should directly involve itself in this conflict.
"If such a decision is made, it will signify nothing less than the direct involvement of NATO countries in the war in Ukraine. It would alter the nature of the conflict. It would mean that NATO countries are at war with Russia," Putin stated in September.
"And if that happens, considering the alteration in the nature of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be posed to us," he added.
Breakthrough US decision. Biden's approval on Ukraine
The shift in the US decision was reportedly influenced by Russia deploying North Korean ground troops on the front line - Reuters reported.
Biden's decision marks a shift in the policy maintained since the onset of the war. In May, the President agreed to the use of American weapons for strikes in the border regions on the Russian side, but it did not pertain to the use of ATACMS and other longer-range missiles.
Kyiv representatives had long advocated for such a shift, but the administration had thus far refrained from making the decision.
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin argued that lifting the restrictions would not change much, as Ukraine possesses its own weapons with similar and longer ranges, and the Russians have relocated some of their assets - such as bombers used for shelling Ukraine - deeper into the country, out of the range of ATACMS.
Biden was concerned that it could lead to an even greater conflict escalation, and the Kremlin warned that it would view such a move as a significant escalation.
Source: WP Wiadomości
