In a startling twist, President Joe Biden’s government has paved the way for Ukraine to launch strikes deep into Russian territory using American-made armaments, according to revelations from two U.S. officials and an insider familiar with the decision. This move marks a dramatic shift in the U.S. stance concerning the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The Ukrainian forces, without divulging specifics due to the cloak of operational secrecy, are gearing up for their initial long-range strikes in the coming days.
This decision emerges just weeks before Donald Trump assumes the presidency on January 20. It follows persistent requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has been advocating for the use of U.S. weapons to target Russian military installations located further from Ukraine’s border.
The shift is largely in reaction to the influx of North Korean ground units bolstering Russian troops, a situation that has undeniably ruffled feathers in both Washington and Kyiv.
In a nightly address, Zelenskiy noted, “The missiles will articulate our intent without needing to utter a word.” He emphasized, “Media talks of permissions granted, yet it is actions, not words, that matter here.”
The White House and the U.S. State Department have remained tight-lipped on the matter.
The Kremlin has yet to respond, but they have previously cautioned that any expansion of Ukraine’s military capabilities with U.S. backing would signify severe heightening of tensions.
Vladimir Dzhabarov, a key figure in Russia’s international affairs, voiced a stark warning: Washington’s nod to Kyiv to strike Russia could potentially ignite “World War Three”. Such a declaration is echoed by Andrei Klishas, a senior parliamentarian, as he broadcasted his fears on Telegram, suggesting dire consequences for Ukrainian sovereignty.
Ukraine is reportedly set to harness ATACMS rockets, capable of reaching up to 306 kilometers, for these unprecedented deep strikes.
Views within the U.S. are mixed. While there’s skepticism on how this might alter the broader course of the conflict, some posit that this policy change might level the playing field against Russian advances, potentially fortifying Kyiv’s position ahead of any hypothetical peace dialogues.
The unpredictable factor is whether Trump will overturn this decision once he’s in office. He has historically critiqued the scale of U.S. support to Ukraine and has pledged to swiftly put an end to the war, albeit without clarifying his approach.
An immediate comment from Trump’s camp was not forthcoming, though Richard Grenell, a well-known foreign policy ally, shared his disapproval, posting, “Intensifying conflicts on his way out,” on the platform X, reacting to the development. Meanwhile, certain congressional Republicans had been championing a relaxation of restrictions on Ukraine’s utilization of U.S. weapons.
With Trump’s post-election victory in November, Biden’s top aides have consistently conveyed that they intend to use the remaining time to arm Ukraine more robustly or to strengthen Kyiv’s hand in any forthcoming peace negotiations with Russia.
‘WAY TOO LATE’
The U.S intelligence community estimates over 10,000 North Korean soldiers are now stationed in eastern Russia, most notably active in the Kursk region and engaged in combat operations.
Russian advances have reached a pace unseen since 2022 despite heavy casualties, and Ukraine reports skirmishes with North Korean troops near Kursk.
Constrained by manpower shortages, Ukrainian forces find themselves retreating in regions they momentarily seized in August, a point Zelenskiy once touted as leverage.
“Easing targeting limitations will allow Ukrainians to fight unhindered,” remarked Alex Plitsas, an expert with the Atlantic Council. Yet, he critiqued, “Like ATACMS, HIMARS, and other weapons systems, these decisions came far too late.”
The Biden administration had previously resisted permitting U.S. weapons for attacks deep inside Russia, wary of escalating the conflict.
Republican Representative Mike Turner, a senior Intelligence Committee member, expressed that easing restrictions was overdue, though more needs doing. He asserted, “This strategic move challenges Vladimir Putin as Trump gears up to address the conflict head-on.”
Other allies of Ukraine provide military aid with constraints, cautious that strikes on Russian soil could provoke a dangerous reaction, possibly dragging NATO into the fray or even triggering a nuclear confrontation.
Poland’s foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, framed the policy shift as a direct counter to North Korea’s intervention.
“Responding to North Korean troops intervening, President Biden sent a clear message, by lifting constraints on Ukraine’s missile usage,” Sikorski declared on X.
Reporting by Mike Stone and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Additional reporting by Barbara Erling in Warsaw, Tom Balmforth and Olena Harmash in Kyiv, Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone and Lisa Shumaker
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
