President Biden has not officially confirmed reports of US long-range weaponry being approved for Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Zelensky making only indirect references. Media suggests the ATACMS missile system may be involved, aimed at countering Russian forces. Zelensky urges Western allies to remove restrictions on military actions, while Polish officials express support. Conversely, Russian leaders warn of severe consequences for any such attacks, indicating potential escalation and direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
US Long-Range Weapons and Ukraine: What We Know
President Biden has yet to provide any official statement regarding reports surrounding the approval of US long-range weaponry for Ukraine. Similarly, Ukrainian President Zelensky has only alluded to the matter without making any direct confirmations. In contrast, Russian officials have reacted strongly to these developments.
Recent media coverage suggests that the United States has granted Ukraine access to long-range weapon systems to be used against Russian forces. However, both American and Ukrainian officials are exercising caution, with President Biden remaining silent on the issue thus far.
Zelensky’s Response and Military Implications
In his latest evening address, President Volodymyr Zelensky touched on the topic indirectly, stating, “Today there are many media reports that we have received permission to take appropriate measures.” He emphasized that military actions speak louder than words, suggesting that any forthcoming attacks will not be publicly announced. “The rockets will speak for themselves,” he asserted.
According to various reports, the authorization is believed to involve the ATACMS missile system, which has a striking range of approximately 300 kilometers, aimed at bolstering the Ukrainian military in the Kursk region. This shift in strategy appears to be in response to the influx of North Korean troops into Russia.
Zelensky has been vocal in urging Western allies to lift restrictions on using long-range weaponry against Russian military targets, believing that decisive action is essential to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha also stressed the need to “remove all limitations on the use of American and British arms against legitimate military objectives within Russia.”
Support for the US decision has emerged from the Polish government, with Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski commenting that Biden’s response to the situation demonstrates a commitment to defending against aggression. “The victim of aggression has the right to defend itself,” he noted on platform X.
In Russia, these reports have been met with fierce criticism. Leonid Sluzki, head of the International Affairs Committee in the State Duma, warned that attacks using American missiles deep into Russian territories would lead to significant escalation with potentially dire consequences. Meanwhile, Vladimir Jabbarov of the Federation Council described the approval as an unprecedented move that could spark World War III, insisting that Russia would respond promptly.
The ongoing discussions between President Zelensky and German Chancellor Scholz focus on securing further military support for Ukraine amidst these tensions.
As of now, there has been no formal response from the Russian government. However, Maria Butina, a member of Parliament from the ruling United Russia party, expressed her belief that the Biden administration is seeking to escalate tensions while still in power, hoping that a potential future President Trump would reverse any such decisions.
In a prior statement, President Putin had warned that Western endorsement of such actions would signify “direct involvement of NATO states, the US, and European nations in the conflict in Ukraine,” adding that the Russian Ministry of Defense is preparing multiple response strategies.