Joe Biden's recent decision to allow Ukraine to launch U.S.-made missiles deeper into Russian territory has sparked an intense reaction from Moscow. This policy shift, which came after months of lobbying by Kyiv, has been met with strong opposition from Russian officials, who warned that it could escalate the conflict into a world war.
Biden authorized Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to use American-made ATACMS missiles, which have a range of about 190 miles. These missiles are more powerful and harder to intercept compared to the explosive drones Ukraine has used in past attacks. This move allows Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory than it has before, a significant development in the ongoing war.
For months, Zelenskyy's government had pushed the U.S. to approve the use of long-range missiles. However, the Biden administration had been hesitant, concerned about escalating the conflict. The shift in policy came over the weekend, almost three years into the war, as Russia launched a devastating missile attack on Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure and killing civilians. These attacks underscored Ukraine’s need for the ability to strike Russian missile systems before they could launch.
The Russian attacks on Sunday and Monday, which included cluster munitions, caused significant casualties in Ukrainian cities like Sumy and Odesa. In Sumy, a missile strike hit a residential area, killing 11 people, including two children, and injuring more than 80 others. These attacks have heightened Ukraine's urgency in seeking the ability to strike further into Russian territory.
Zelenskyy welcomed the U.S. decision, emphasizing that "missiles will speak for themselves" and asserting that Ukraine must take every step to end the war through diplomacy. He acknowledged the expected shift in U.S. policy following the upcoming presidential transition, where President-elect Trump is expected to pursue a more negotiated approach to ending the conflict.
In Moscow, Russian lawmakers condemned Biden's decision. Leonid Slutsky, a senior Russian lawmaker, accused Biden of seeking to end his term as "Bloody Joe." Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov also warned that the decision could trigger a world war, a sentiment echoed by the Russian state-run media, which cautioned that NATO's involvement could lead to dire consequences.
President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles would mean that the U.S. and NATO countries were directly involved in the war. Meanwhile, Russia has escalated the conflict further by deploying North Korean troops to fight alongside Russian forces. This move, according to U.S. and South Korean officials, has contributed to the war's growing global dimension.
John Sullivan, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, stated that Putin's actions, including the involvement of North Korean troops, may have pushed the U.S. to allow Ukraine more powerful weapons for self-defense. Sullivan called the decision "the last straw" in a series of escalations by Russia.
Ukraine: Tragic Missile Strike in Sumy Claims 10 Lives Including Two Children
Russia Intensifies Attacks on Ukraine's Energy Grid as Winter Looms
Zelenskiy Aims to End Ukraine-Russia War Next Year Through Diplomacy