Ukraine: Missile threat after Biden's green light –

US President Joe Biden has authorized Kiev to bombard Russian territory with long-range missiles supplied to the Ukrainian military from the US, a US official told AFP today (17/11).

The US "has given the green light to the use of long-range missiles," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Thus, Washington accepts a long-standing request of Kiev, shortly before the departure of Joe Biden from the White House and the return of Donald Trump, who is critical of American aid to Ukraine.

Such a decision would mean that "NATO countries are at war with Russia"

The missiles are initially expected to be used in the Russian border region of Kursk, where North Korean soldiers have been deployed to support Russian troops, according to US officials who spoke to The New York Times on condition of anonymity.

The White House declined to comment on the reports.

Ukraine has repeatedly asked its Western allies for permission to strike deep into Russian territory with long-range missiles. However, many countries, including the US, have so far refused to give that green light, fearing an escalation with Moscow.

Putin has warned

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that such a decision would mean "NATO countries are at war with Russia".

Washington's shift, which comes just over two months before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20, comes after months of requests by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to allow Ukraine's military to use US weapons to to strike Russian military targets far from the border.

The first deep strikes are likely to be carried out using ATACMS missiles, which have a range of up to 306 kilometers, the sources said.

In the foreground the American ATACMS missiles.

The policy change follows Russia's deployment of North Korean troops to supplement its own forces, a development that has alarmed Washington and Kiev.

While some US officials have expressed skepticism that allowing long-range strikes will change the overall course of the war, the decision could help Ukraine at a time when Russian forces are making gains and possibly put Kiev in a better negotiating position when and if cease-fire talks take place.

On the campaign trail, Trump has not hesitated to criticize the tens of billions of dollars in US aid that has been given to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. Trump, who will take office on January 20, has said that ending the war in "24 hours", without ever explaining how.

Ukraine fears waning US support as its troops struggle on the front, or being forced into a deal that includes territorial concessions to Russia.

ATACMS:

It is unclear whether Trump will overturn this Biden decision when he takes office.