Joe Biden authorizes Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with US weapons
By
Amaury Coutansais-Pervinquière
Published 1 hour ago, updatedat 8:11 p.m.
The decision comes two months before the handover of power between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who is suspected of wanting to reduce support for Ukraine.
The decision was expected. The French and the British had authorized Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with their SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles. Joe Biden, after several months of pressing requests, gave his agreement to Volodomyr Zelensky to use American ATACMS missiles, with a range of 300 kilometers, against Russia,
reveals the New York Times . The United States
"gave the green light to the use of long-range missiles ," a US official confirmed to AFP.
The move is a major shift in the conduct of Ukrainian operations, which reportedly has more American missiles than Franco-British ones. It comes two months before the handover of power between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who is suspected of wanting to reduce support for Ukraine.
According to the American daily, the White House lifted its ban in response to the deployment of 10,000
North Korean soldiers by Russia. An escalation in the conflict, made necessary by the high losses of the two belligerents. Joe Biden had already authorized, at the end of May, Ukraine to use its HIMARS multiple rocket launcher against Russian territory, but simply to defend Kharkiv, the country's second city, threatened by a significant intrusion by the Russian army.
Several observers saw in the American caution until now the fear of an escalation with Russia. But also of strikes on oil zones that would have destabilized the world market. The ATACAMS strikes could be used to repel an upcoming assault of at least 50,000 soldiers, including North Koreans, in the Russian region of Kursk partly occupied by the Ukrainian army.