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In a move that has escalated international
tensions, President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied
long-range missiles to strike targets within Russian territory. This decision,
announced on November 17, 2024, comes as Ukraine continues to defend against
Russian aggression. The newly approved Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS)
are expected to allow Kyiv to target critical infrastructure deep inside Russia,
including airfields and supply depots.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism and alarm
worldwide. The Kremlin condemned the action as a direct provocation, warning
that it could lead to uncontrollable escalation. Russian officials have
suggested that such actions bring the world perilously close to a broader
conflict. Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper house's
international affairs committee, said, "This is a very big step towards the
start of World War Three."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the
U.S. support, emphasizing the strategic advantage the missiles bring. "This is a
significant step in neutralizing Russian military dominance," Zelenskyy stated,
highlighting the ability to disrupt supply chains and fortifications far beyond
Ukraine's borders.
The timing of Biden's decision has also raised
questions. With only weeks remaining in his term before President-elect Donald
Trump takes office in January 2025, some analysts speculate that this move aims
to solidify U.S. policy on Ukraine before a potential shift in strategy under
the incoming administration.
Global reactions remain mixed as NATO allies have
expressed concerns about the potential for the conflict to spiral into a broader
war involving multiple nations. Meanwhile, China and North Korea have issued
statements condemning the decision, with North Korea warning of "disastrous
consequences for the global order."
US Approval of Long-Range Missiles Called 'Very Big Step' Towards World War III (Common Dreams, 11-17-24)
Ukraine strikes on Russia with US missiles could lead to world war, Russian lawmakers say (Reuters, 11-17-24)
On November 19, 2024, Russia's Ministry of
Defense reported that Ukraine launched U.S.-supplied long-range missiles into
Russia's Bryansk region, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing
conflict. According to the Ministry of Defence in Moscow, Five missiles were
shot down, with a sixth damaged missile fragment, causing a fire at a military
facility.
In response to the missile strikes, Russian President Vladimir Putin lowered
Russia's threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. This new doctrine asserts
that Russia could use nuclear arms in the event of an attack by a nation
backed by a nuclear power. Russian officials have also issued stern warnings.
Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said at a press conference at the
G20 in Rio de Janeiro that Russia would "proceed from the understanding" that
the missiles were operated by "American military experts" and "We will be
taking this as a renewed face of the western war against Russia and we will
react accordingly," Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for Russian president
Vladimir Putin, stated "Such actions are adding fuel to the fire and could
lead to a further escalation of the conflict."
The use of long-range missiles by Ukraine has introduced new dynamics to the
conflict and raises concerns about potential broader worldwide implications.
Moscow says Ukraine has fired US-supplied long range missiles into Russia (BBC, 11-19-24)
Putin Lowers Russia’s Threshold for Using Nuclear Arms (The New York Times, 11-19-24)
Ukraine attacks Russia with U.S.-made longer-range ATACAMS missiles, Moscow says (NPR, 11-19-24)
In a departure from previous U.S. policy, President Joe Biden has authorized
the provision of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine, aiming to bolster its
defenses against advancing Russian forces in the eastern Donbas region. This
move follows the recent U.S. approval for Ukraine to utilize American-made
long-range missiles against Russian targets, indicating a broader strategy to
enhance Ukraine's military capabilities amid ongoing conflict.
The deployment of antipersonnel mines is controversial due to their potential
to cause civilian casualties. The 1999 Ottawa Convention bans their use,
production, and transfer; however, neither the United States nor Russia are
signatories. The U.S. administration emphasizes that the mines provided to
Ukraine are engineered to deactivate after a set time, aiming to mitigate
unintended consequences.
The Biden administration's decisions to provide Ukraine with long-range
missiles and antipersonnel landmines have intensified tensions between the
United States and Russia, signaling a deepening of U.S. involvement in the
conflict. These measures have drawn sharp criticism from Moscow. While the
U.S. emphasizes the controlled use of these weapons to minimize civilian harm,
the Kremlin has warned that such actions could lead to severe repercussions,
further straining already fraught relations between the two nuclear powers.
Biden approves antipersonnel mines for Ukraine, undoing his own policy (The Washington Post, 11-19-24)
Biden agrees to give Ukraine anti-personnel mines (BBC, 11-20-24)
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