By The Opinion
Nov 17, 2024, 3:23 PM EST
The president Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range American weapons for limited attacks within Russian territory, The Washington Post reported today, citing two senior Biden administration officials.
So far, neither the White House nor the Pentagon have confirmed it. Neither has the Ukrainian government of Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to the sources cited by the newspaper, Biden’s permission to use US weapons is in response to the sending of thousands of North Korean soldiers to Ukraine (10,000 according to US intelligence) to join the Russian forces trying to regain control of the territory. Russian captured by Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region.
The sources emphasize that it is also a signal to Pyongyang not to send more troopsas there are suspicions that he could be planning to do so.
The authorized weapons are specifically supersonic guided missiles called ATACMS that can carry conventional or cluster warheads, and have a range of about 190 miles or 300 kilometers.
They respond to what the Zelensky government has been asking for for months arguing that only such weapons can significantly degrade Russian military capabilities and give Ukraine a certain advantage on the ground.
If confirmed, Biden’s decision could mean a great boost to Ukraine just before its government gives way to that of Donald Trump in Januarywho has repeatedly promised to end the Ukrainian war. And although he has not expressly specified it, there is fear that Trump is promoting an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin that includes Ukraine’s relinquishment of part of its territory currently occupied by Russian troops.
If Trump promotes negotiations with Moscow in the coming months, entry into the long-range missile war could at least strengthen Ukraine’s position at a future negotiating table, the newspaper notes.
With information from EFE.
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