With two months left in President Joe Biden’s term, he has approved the use of U.S. long-range missiles to be used by Ukraine to strike Russia. Previously during the Russia/Ukraine War the U.S. has supported Ukraine; however, the U.S. has not allowed American weapons to be used outside of Ukrainian soil.
The decision to allow American missiles to strike Russia may be a retaliation to the deployment of North Korean troops alongside Russian troops in the war.
This choice from President Biden contradicts previous statements by the President vowing to limit further support to Ukraine, dividing his advisors.
“For months I have called on President Biden to remove these restrictions,” Michael R. Turner, Representative of Ohio and Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement to the press.
Some of Biden’s advisors had been reluctant to agree with Mr. Turner after a recent U.S. intelligence assessment that stated Putin could respond to the use of U.S. missiles on Russian soil. The assessment warned of, potentially lethal, Russian responses to the missiles on both European and U.S. military bases, as well as, acts of arson and sabotage on facilities in Europe.
“Today, many in the media are talking about the fact that we have received permission to take appropriate actions,” Mr. Zelensky said in his address of the situation. “But blows are not inflicted with words. Such things are not announced. The rockets will speak for themselves.”
Officials say that Biden may have been swayed to change his stance on further support of Ukraine when concern that the Russian force may be able to overwhelm Ukrainian forces in Kursk.
“The policy shift appears to be part of a Biden administration push to give what it can to Ukraine before [it leaves office on] January 20.” the Wall Street Journal’s Gordon Lubold and Alexander Ward write.