US President Joe Biden allows Ukraine to use US long-range weapons against Russia

Table of Contents

• 1 Zelensky: “The missiles will speak for themselves”
• 2 US-Radar
• 3 Use against Russian and North Korean troops?
• 4 What will Trump do?
• 5 Scholz against a license for similar weapons
• 6 Habeck used to deliver rockets
• 7 What is ‍your‍ perspective on how diverse opinions can⁣ enrich a conversation and lead to more innovative solutions?

Washington/Moscow. According to information from the New York Times, outgoing President Joe Biden has authorized the armed forces of Ukraine to use longer-range American weapons of the ATACMS type against targets on the territory of Russia for the first time. The newspaper reported this on Sunday night, citing government sources in Washington. According to other reports, the Ukrainian army could carry out attacks with these weapons, which have a range of about 350 kilometers, in the coming days. Earlier in the day, Russia had again carried out massive air strikes against Ukrainian cities and the country’s energy infrastructure.

The decision represents a major change of course by the US government shortly before Biden leaves office in January. Incoming President Donald Trump has announced that he will severely limit US aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called on Washington and other allies to provide weapons to the armed forces to defend themselves against Russia to allow the use of long-range missiles to hit targets to target within Russia.

Zelensky: “The missiles will speak for themselves”

The US Department of Defense initially did not want to comment on the reports when asked by the German Press Agency. Zelensky indicated that he had received permission for the work. But blows are not delivered with words, he said in his afternoon speech. “Such things are not mentioned. The missiles will speak for themselves.”

US-Radar

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Use against Russian and North Korean troops?

As the “New York Times” and the “Washington Post” later also reported, Biden’s decision is likely also related to the latest developments in the eastern front region of Ukraine and in the Kursk region of Russia. Ukrainian troops have been advancing on Russian territory for several months – Russia now also has North Korean troops to recapture and strengthen its own offensive power.

“The (long-range) weapons are likely to be used against Russian and North Korean troops and to protect Ukrainian forces in the western Russian region of Kursk,” wrote the New York Times, citing statements from unnamed US government officials. According to the paper, Biden’s advisory staff was divided on the issue of dropping the long-range weapons. Critics on the panel argued that could such a decision would escalate the conflict to the point that Russia could attack US allies in Europe or the US itself as an act of retaliation. Supporters of the advisory group are said to have responded, though however, that these fears were completely exaggerated.

However, Moscow fired back with sharp words. Such a step would be an increase, it was said. Vladimir Dzhabarov, the first deputy chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian Upper House, warned that such a decision could lead to a third war, according to the Russian news agency TASS. Moscow will respond quickly.

What will Trump do?

US President Donald Trump has long suggested that he could pressure Ukraine to give up territory seized by the Russians in order to end the war. During the election campaign, he largely avoided questions about whether he wanted the US to win the war. Trump has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration for providing billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine.

Trump said he wanted the war to be over. Ukraine’s international backers fear that a quick attempt at a solution would greatly benefit Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Donald Trump is the 47th President-elect of the United States

Quelle: IMAGO/Imagn Images

Scholz against a license for similar weapons

The ATACMS system is primarily the long-range weapons of the US. A similar debate has been going on for a long time in Germany about how the Bundeswehr could use Taurus cruise missiles. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) completely rejects their use against Russian targets because he fears that Germany could be drawn into the war as an arms supplier. It is controversial among experts whether such an operation would be covered by international law or whether it would justify a possible counter-attack by Russia against the individual supporting state.

Habeck used to deliver rockets

The Green Party’s main candidate, Robert Habeck, has announced that if elected as head of government, he would deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. The answer to this question is yes, he said on Sunday night in an interview with the ARD capital studio when he was asked if he would review the decision of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Habeck pointed out that once again, as Federal Minister of Economics, he would have to make decisions about arms deliveries. “That was part of my job and those were some of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. “

So far, the US has limited the use of its weapons against Russia to defend the Russian offensive against the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. Here the US government has given permission to use the Himars rocket launcher system.