Biden has approved Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided long-range missiles against targets inside Russian territory, according to a New York Times report on Sunday citing unnamed U.S. officials.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that such an escalation would amount to an act of war. As of Sunday, he had not publicly responded to Biden’s decision.
The announcement came shortly after Russia carried out one of its largest missile and drone assaults in months, with over 200 strikes aimed at crippling Ukraine’s power and energy infrastructure.
Putin has stated that permitting Ukraine to utilize these missiles effectively draws the U.S. and NATO into the conflict. “Flight assignments for these missile systems can, in fact, only be entered by military personnel from NATO countries. Ukrainian servicemen cannot do this. And therefore, it is not a question of allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not. It is a question of making a decision whether NATO countries directly participate in the military conflict or not,” Putin said in September. He added, “If this decision is made, it will mean nothing less than the direct participation of NATO countries, the United States, and European countries, in the war in Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is reportedly preparing to announce a peace envoy to facilitate negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. During the campaign, Trump claimed he could resolve the conflict before assuming office.
