Biden permits Ukraine to attack inside Russia with US weapons

The Biden administration has granted Ukraine permission to utilize U.S.-manufactured weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory, marking a major shift in Washington’s approach to the ongoing conflict, according to two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the matter. Ukraine is expected to conduct its first long-range strikes soon, though details remain confidential due to operational security.

This policy change occurs approximately two months before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office on January 20, following repeated requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to expand the scope of Ukraine's military operations against Russian targets. This decision is primarily in response to Russia's use of North Korean troops to bolster its forces, a move that has caused concern in both Washington and Kyiv, according to sources.

In a recent address, Zelenskiy stated that the newly permitted strikes would "speak for themselves" and emphasized that military operations are not publicized beforehand. The White House and U.S. State Department declined to comment on the matter, while Russia, which has previously cautioned against any expansion of Ukrainian military capabilities with U.S. arms, did not immediately issue a response.

Russian officials, including Vladimir Dzhabarov from the Federation Council's international affairs committee, warned that this escalation could lead to severe consequences, including a potential "World War Three." Senior parliamentarian Andrei Klishas suggested that such actions by the West could lead to the total collapse of Ukraine.

Ukraine is likely to deploy ATACMS rockets with a range of up to 190 miles for its initial long-range strikes. Although some U.S. officials remain skeptical about the strategic impact of these strikes on the broader conflict, they believe it could offer Ukraine leverage in future ceasefire negotiations by countering recent Russian gains.

It remains uncertain whether President-elect Trump will uphold or reverse this policy once in office. Trump has been critical of the scale of U.S. support to Ukraine and has promised to end the war expediently, though specifics of his strategy remain unclear. Richard Grenell, a foreign policy adviser, criticized Biden's decision, accusing him of "escalating the wars before he leaves office" via a post on X.

Since Trump's electoral victory on November 5, the Biden administration has focused on bolstering Ukraine's position to either continue combat operations or negotiate peace from a position of strength. Republican Congressman Mike Turner, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, welcomed Biden’s move but suggested more could be done to empower Ukraine.

The U.S. has reportedly assessed that over 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia’s eastern regions, with many now engaged in combat in the Kursk area. Despite heavy losses, Russian forces have made significant advances, challenging Ukraine's control over territory gained in prior operations.

Atlantic Council senior fellow Alex Plitsas argued that the relaxation of targeting constraints is long overdue and criticized the delayed provision of essential weaponry such as ATACMS and HIMARS, among others.

Concerns about escalating the conflict had previously led the U.S. to impose restrictions on the use of its weapons inside Russia. However, allies such as Poland view this policy shift as a direct response to North Korea's involvement in the conflict. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski noted that President Biden’s decision was a clear message to Moscow in response to the entry of North Korean forces and intensified Russian missile strikes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paraphrasing text from "Reuters" all rights reserved by the original author.