Joe Biden thus accedes to a long-standing request from kyiv shortly before his departure from the White House and the return of Donald Trump, very critical of American aid to Ukraine.
The United States has given authorization to Ukraine to strike Russian territory with long-range missiles provided by Washington, an American official said this Sunday, November 17.
The United States “has given the green light to the use of long-range missiles,” said this official, speaking on condition of anonymity, Joe Biden thus acceding to a long-standing request from kyiv shortly before his departure from the White House and the return of Donald Trump, very critical of American aid to Ukraine.
The risk of an escalation
The missiles should initially be used in the Russian border region of Kursk, where North Korean soldiers have been deployed in support of Russian troops, according to the New York Times, which cites American officials speaking on condition of anonymity. .
Ukraine has repeatedly asked its Western allies for authorization to strike Russian territory in depth with long-range missiles. But several countries, including the United States, have until now refused to give such a green light, for fear of an escalation with Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that such a decision would mean that “NATO countries are at war with Russia.”
Trump promised to resolve the conflict “in 24 hours”
In his campaign to return to the White House, Donald Trump was not shy in criticizing the tens of billions of dollars released for Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
The president-elect, who will take office on January 20, promised to resolve this conflict “in 24 hours”, without ever explaining how.
Ukraine fears a weakening of American support, at a time when its troops are in difficulty on the front, or that an agreement involving territorial concessions to Russia will be imposed on it.
