The authorization is not officially confirmed by Washington, but it is circulating in a series of major American media and was relayed by American officials on condition of anonymity.
For Moscow, Washington throws “fuel to the fire” and changes “fundamentally” the involvement of the United States in this conflict.
Vladimir Putin recently warned that such a green light would mean “the direct involvement of NATO countries in the war in Ukraine.” Especially since according to the Russian president, it is the Western countries which provide the coordinates of the targets to the Ukrainian army.
According to the New York Times, the ATACMS missiles supplied by the United States could, initially, be fired towards the region of Kurk, bordering Ukraine, where thousands of North Korean soldiers are now deployed to support Russian troops.
Moreover, the North Korean dictator also accuses the Americans “to broaden the scope of their military interventions throughout the world” capable d’“fueling fears of a third world war”.
Change the balance of power before negotiations
This green light from current President Joe Biden is seen as an attempt to strengthen Ukraine before possible peace negotiations and the return to the White House of Donald Trump, who has assured that he can resolve the conflict “in 24 hours” and who is known to be close to Vladimir Putin.
Today, kyiv is cornered on the battlefield and finds itself in a weak position against Moscow, which intends to retain the 20% of Ukrainian territory conquered over the last ten years.
In Europe, this new development was on the table at a meeting today of the foreign ministers of the 27.
The representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, once again called for authorizing Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory. For him, Ukraine must “be able to use the weapons we provide, not only to stop the arrows, but also to hit the archers”.
If Italy has expressed its opposition, Poland welcomes the American decision and believes that we must speak “in language that Vladimir Putin understands” and that “the victim of an attack has the right to defend himself”. France reaffirmed that striking military targets on Russian territory remained a “option”without further details.
German government divided over missile deliveries
And for the head of German diplomacy, it is right to allow Ukraine to destroy Russian missile launch bases, before these missiles cross the border.
The fact remains that Germany, although the second supplier to the Ukrainian army, does not in turn intend to deliver cruise missiles to kyiv. According to a government spokesperson in Berlin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz sees no reason to change course.
A position which could well evolve with the end of the tripartite coalition and very likely new early elections next February. Indeed, the Green party says it is ready for such deliveries, just like the conservatives in opposition.
