Ukraine: Joe Biden is “throwing fuel on the fire”, according to the Kremlin

The authorization given to kyiv by Joe Biden to use long-range American missiles on Russian territory is likely to “pour fuel on the fire” in the conflict in Ukraine, the spokesperson for the Ukraine said on Monday. Kremlin, Dmitri Peskov. If it were to be officially confirmed by Washington, this authorization would lead to “a fundamentally new situation in terms of the involvement of the United States in this conflict,” the spokesperson further warned.

The decision was announced by the American media and confirmed to AFP by an American official, after another weekend of massive and deadly Russian strikes on Ukraine. Washington on Sunday authorized Ukraine to strike Russian territory with long-range missiles supplied by the United States, according to an American official, a major strategic change a few weeks before Donald Trump comes to power. The United States “gave the green light to the use of long-range missiles,” this official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

Democratic President Joe Biden thus accedes to a long-standing request from kyiv shortly before his departure from the White House and the return of Republican Donald Trump, very critical of American aid to Ukraine. China responded on Monday by calling for a “rapid ceasefire and a political solution”. “The most urgent thing is to encourage an easing of the situation as quickly as possible,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky himself cautiously welcomed the American official’s announcement, contenting himself with noting that these weapons “will speak for themselves.” Recalling in his evening address the importance of his army’s “long-range capability”, he noted that “today, many media outlets are reporting that we have received authorization to take appropriate measures.” “But strikes are not carried out using words. Things like this are not announced,” Volodymyr Zelensky continued. “The missiles will speak for themselves.”

These missiles with a maximum range of several hundred kilometers would allow Ukraine to reach logistical sites of the Russian army and airfields from which its bombers take off. The ATACMS missiles supplied by the United States 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”. Kursk airport, where a combat aircraft regiment is stationed, is also considered an important target; the city is also home to various weapons depots, equipment and military bases.

The decision by Washington to authorize Ukraine to use these missiles came in reaction to this deployment of North Korean troops, according to these officials. 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.” The United States’ decision could push other allies to follow suit, notably the United Kingdom.

In his campaign to return to the White House, Donald Trump was not shy in criticizing the tens of billions of dollars released by Washington for Ukraine. The elected president regularly claimed during the campaign that he could end the war “in one day”, even before taking office on January 20, 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.