November 17th 2024.
A group of journalists, including Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long, Zeke Miller, Matthew Lee, and Ellen Knickmeyer, reported from Manaus, Brazil that President Joe Biden has given Ukraine the green light to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to target deeper within Russia. This decision comes as Russia has deployed a large number of North Korean troops to reinforce its ongoing war efforts in Ukraine. A U.S. official and three individuals familiar with the matter confirmed this development.
The President's decision to allow Kyiv to utilize the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMs) for strikes further inside Russian territory is a significant step. It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has positioned North Korean troops along Ukraine's northern border to reclaim land seized by Ukrainian forces. This move by Biden also follows the recent presidential election victory of Donald Trump, who had promised to end the conflict quickly, leading to uncertainty about the future of U.S. military support for Ukraine.
According to one of the individuals, the longer-range missiles will likely be used in response to North Korea's support of Putin's invasion of Ukraine. However, the U.S. official and others familiar with the matter were not authorized to discuss this decision publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Western supporters have been urging Biden for months to allow them to strike deeper within Russia with Western-supplied missiles. They argue that the previous U.S. ban had hindered their efforts to defend their cities and electrical grids from Russian attacks.
Some supporters of Ukraine have expressed concerns that the limitations and other constraints imposed by the U.S. could cost them the war. This debate has caused some disagreement among Ukraine's NATO allies. Despite this, Biden had remained firm on his stance, determined to prevent any escalation that could potentially lead to direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.
The news of Biden's decision came after his recent meetings with the leaders of South Korea, Japan, and China, where North Korean troops were a key topic of discussion. These meetings took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru. However, during a speech at a stop to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil on his way to the Group of 20 summit, Biden did not mention this decision.
When asked about the President's decision, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated during a press conference that the organization's position is to prevent a permanent deterioration of the war in Ukraine. He also added that they want a fair and peaceful resolution, but did not elaborate further. On the same day, Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure and killing civilians.
It is believed that North Korea has provided thousands of troops to Russia to assist in their efforts to regain control of the Kursk border region that Ukraine had seized earlier this year. This development has given Moscow a favorable shift in momentum. Trump, who will take office in January, had repeatedly stated during his campaign that he wanted the conflict in Ukraine to end, but he had avoided answering questions about whether he wanted Ukraine to emerge victorious.
Furthermore, Trump had criticized the Biden administration for providing Ukraine with billions of dollars in aid. His victory in the presidential election has raised concerns among Ukraine's international supporters that any rushed settlement could mostly benefit Putin. The United States is Ukraine's most critical ally in this war, having provided over $56.2 billion in security assistance since the Russian invasion in 2022.
However, the Biden administration has been cautious in providing specific advanced weapons requested by Ukraine, fearing Russia's response. They have only agreed to do so under pressure from Kyiv, its supporters, and in consultation with allies. For instance, they initially refused Zelenskyy's requests for advanced tanks, Patriot air defense systems, and F-16 fighter jets. The White House eventually agreed in May to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied weaponry for limited strikes near the Russian border.
In conclusion, Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long, Zeke Miller, Matthew Lee, and Ellen Knickmeyer reported this story from Washington, while Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed from West Palm Beach, Florida. To stay updated on Colorado politics, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.
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