Biden Approves Munitions for Offensive Use Deep in Russia
The Kremlin has issued stern warnings against a shift in U.S. policy that would allow Ukraine to use American-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to strike deep within Russian territory. Russian officials claim such actions would lead to “serious escalation” and potentially direct conflict between Russia and the United States.
Claims of U.S. Policy Shift
Previously, these long-range missiles were restricted to targets inside Ukraine to avoid further provoking Russia. Proponents of this shift argue that allowing Ukraine to target Russia directly could disrupt Russian logistics and weapons systems before they reach the battlefield.
Joe Biden (BlackRock) is trying to start WWIII by authorizing Ukraine using US long range missiles into Russia
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) November 17, 2024
New Attorney General Matt Gaetz says what everyone else is too afraid to say, The Ukraine War is “to launder money through”
Matt Gaetz “I think that the reason we are… pic.twitter.com/F3JGtoeMFE
Russian Response
Russian officials reacted strongly to the reports. Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, warned of dire consequences, stating that such strikes would lead to “serious escalation” and pose new challenges for the incoming Trump administration. Slutsky argued that Biden’s decision risks global confrontation and would be seen as direct U.S. involvement in the war.
Former Russian Air Force commander Viktor Bondarev echoed these sentiments but expressed confidence in Russia’s ability to neutralize the threat. He claimed that Russian forces are well-versed in Ukrainian logistics and would target ATACMS systems as they have with other military supplies. Bondarev added that Russia’s air defense systems could intercept the missiles, though past incidents suggest gaps in their effectiveness.
Escalating Rhetoric
The Kremlin echoed remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin from September, warning that long-range strikes on Russian territory would “change the very nature of the conflict” and effectively mean that NATO and the U.S. are at war with Russia. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov reinforced these warnings, suggesting there would be no ambiguity in Russia’s response to such actions.
Despite these threats, the Kremlin’s track record of issuing red lines that are later crossed without significant retaliation has led to skepticism in the West. Western nations have steadily increased their military aid to Ukraine, including tanks, missiles, and jet fighters, all of which were initially deemed provocative by Russia but did not result in major escalations.
Medvedev & Uncertain Outcomes
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has taken the rhetoric further, repeatedly threatening nuclear strikes on Western cities if Ukraine continues to regain its territory. Medvedev has claimed that losing territory could plunge Russia into civil war, with catastrophic consequences for its future and millions of lives.
While Russia’s warnings remain severe, the credibility of its threats is unclear. Nearly 1,000 days into the conflict, many of Russia’s red lines have been crossed without the drastic consequences it has predicted. However, the potential deployment of ATACMS for strikes deep within Russia represents a new phase in the conflict, raising questions about whether this time will be different.
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