Biden allows Ukraine to strike inside Russia with US missiles

Joe Biden has sixty-four days left in the White House — and clearly he intends to make the most of them. The president has today allowed Ukraine to use American missiles to strike deep inside of Russia. For months, Kyiv has been asking for permission to use ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) — capable of firing long-range missiles up to 186 miles. The weapons — which have already been used at least once to hit targets in occupied Crimea — will enable Ukraine to target a wider range of bases, storage facilities and logistics hubs. It comes seven months after the Pentagon confirmed the missiles’ arrival in Ukraine on strict instruction that they had to be used in Ukrainian territory only.

Today’s reversal of that initial decision is a significant shift in American policy. Officials in Washington had been divided on the wisdom of allowing the move. Some had concerns about escalation, with others pointing to the dwindling stockpiles of the weapons. Biden’s green light will raise expectations that the US, Britain and France could swiftly authorize Kyiv to use Storm Shadow missiles in the same way. Both Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have privately advocated this, with the Conservatives today urging the prime minister — who is on his way to the G20 in Brazil — to follow the example of his American counterpart.

Biden’s pivot is a timely one, given Kyiv’s casualties in Russia’s recent counteroffensive. Hailing Biden’s announcement, President Zelensky told Ukrainians in a television address that this weekend marked “one of the largest and most dangerous Russian attacks in the entire war.” Some 12,000 North Koreans have already been deployed to the arena, as part of Pyongyang’s efforts to aid Putin. Their clash in Kursk marked the first time in centuries that there has been a direct military confrontation between armies of a European and Asian country in Europe.

Overshadowing today’s decision of course is the looming return of Donald Trump. He has repeatedly claimed in recent months that he will end the Russia-Ukraine war in twenty-four hours, boasting on the campaign trail that he will strike a deal between both sides — but without offering any specifics. Trump’s advisors are split on whether America’s supply of weaponry ought to be contingent on Zelensky agreeing to immediate peace talks. Ukraine’s supporters will just hope that Sunday’s move will strengthen Kyiv’s hand if such a scenario does now arise.

This article was originally published on The Spectator’s UK website.