MANDEL NGAN / AFP
Long requested by the President of Ukraine, the supply of American antipersonnel mines to fight Russia is now authorized by the United States.
INTERNATIONAL – Before packing his bags, Joe Biden continues the end-of-term concessions. In a more than tense climate on the Ukrainian front with the continuation of major Russian offensives, the United States will finally grant Ukraine an additional weapon to defend itself.
As revealed Tuesday by the Washington Post and confirmed by the BBC this Wednesday, November 20, outgoing President Joe Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to use “non-persistent antipersonnel mines” on its soil, provided by the United States.
The advance on the Ukrainian eastern flank of Russian troops is increasingly worrying kyiv's allies, led by the United States. Reason why this decision was taken by the American president, keen to slow down the Russian advance but above all aware of the upheavals to come in this war with the arrival of Donald Trump at the White House in two months, to the day.
One of the officials cited by the Washington Post therefore evokes the importance of this decision, “ one of the most useful steps the Biden administration can take to help slow the Russian attack ».
kyiv commits to limiting risks
Concerning the delivery times of these weapons, the senior American official who confirmed the information to the BBC affirms that these mines will be delivered soon for immediate use on Ukrainian soil. According to this anonymous source, kyiv has also made a commitment not to use antipersonnel mines in areas of high population density.
It is precisely this risk for the local Ukrainian populations that has held back the tenant of the White House who has given the green light until now.
These mines, equipped with a self-destruct device, can also lose their battery charge, rendering them inactive after several days or even weeks. Thus preventing them from constituting a danger for several generations after the end of the war. Enough to minimize the risks, but not the criticism of this type of weapon, still considered risky by many arms control experts.
Remote duel between Moscow and Washington
This announcement therefore illustrates the new American momentum to come to the aid of kyiv. On Sunday, Joe Biden had already taken a new step in the war against Russia by accepting the use of American-made long-range missiles on Russian territory. The famous ATACMS, for “ Army Tactical Missile System »pronounced in English “ attack’ems “, either ” attack them ».
Missiles requested for a long time by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which provoked a first strong reaction from the Kremlin: expanding the use of the Russian nuclear army. An announcement brandished as a threat to new American announcements to support Ukraine.
Moreover, the Russian response could also take place in a more concrete way in the coming hours, since the American embassy in kyiv is warning against a “possible significant air attack” starting this Wednesday. Just after promising to respond to Ukraine's firing of long-range American missiles on its territory. The American embassy, closed as a precaution, says it has “received specific information regarding a possible significant air attack on November 20”she indicates on her website.
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