Biden greenlights long-range missile use amid Russian warnings
The Kremlin's initial reactions have emerged regarding the US decision on Ukraine's use of long-range missiles against targets in Russia. Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the State Duma's International Affairs Committee and leader of one of the parties announced that Biden's decision would provoke "the sharpest response" due to the threats that the Russian Federation will encounter.
- Biden has apparently decided to end his presidential term and go down in history as "Bloody Joe." If the published data from sources are confirmed, it will mean only one thing: the direct involvement of the United States in the war. In the Ukraine conflict, this will inevitably be met with the sharpest response from Russia, due to the threats that will arise for our country – said Slutsky.
The administration of US President Joe Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to use American weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing several sources familiar with the matter. Similar information was also provided by other media outlets, citing sources within the US administration.
According to the agency, Ukraine is set to conduct its first long-range attacks in the coming days using ATACMS missiles, which have a range of about 300 kilometres.
The change in the US decision was influenced by Russia's deployment of North Korean ground troops at the front, reported Reuters. Similar reports were published by agencies such as AP, AFP, and the "New York Times."
Biden's decision marks a change in the policy pursued since the beginning of the war. In May, the president agreed to the use of American weapons for strikes in border regions on the Russian side, but this did not include the use of ATACMS and other longer-range missiles.
Representatives of Kyiv had long advocated for such a change, but the administration had thus far refrained from making a decision. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin argued that lifting the restrictions would not make much difference since Ukraine possesses its own weapons with similar or longer ranges, and the Russians had moved some of their assets – such as bombers used for shelling Ukraine – further into the country, out of range of ATACMS. Biden was also concerned that this might lead to an even greater escalation of the conflict. The Kremlin warned that it would view such a move as a significant escalation.
