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President Joe Biden has approved Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to launch US missiles into Russia.
The move is a major change as the US previously only allowed Zelenskyy to use their missiles within Ukraine’s borders. When asked about a move like this in September, Putin said it would mean “that NATO countries — the United States and European countries — are at war with Russia.”
What could this move mean for the war in Ukraine and US relations with Russia?
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War in Ukraine
It has been 1,000 days since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Biden has approved the use of ATACMS missiles, which have a range of 200 miles for Ukraine to use.
10,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Ukraine to help Russia. Jon Finer, US deputy national security adviser, said that the US saw this move as an escalation and that the US were “clear to the Russians that [they] would respond to that.”
Zelenskyy when speaking about the move said - “the missiles will speak for themselves”.
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The missiles will only be allowed in the Kursk region where the North Korean troops are based. Ukraine also launched an incursion to the region in the summer.
Russia is currently making progress around that region and the move could significantly help Ukrainian forces push the Russians back.
It is also hoped that if ceasefire talks begin, this will help to give Ukraine more leverage in keeping all of their territory in any peace deal.
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Reaction in Russia
Vladimir Putin is yet to comment on the news. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "this decision is reckless, dangerous, aimed at a qualitative change, a qualitative increase in the level of involvement of the United States in this conflict.”
“It is clear that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to take steps to continue to add fuel to the fire and to further inflame tensions around this conflict.”
Russian state newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta said that “the madmen who are drawing NATO into a direct conflict with our country may soon be in great pain.”
Senior Russian politician, Vladimir Dzhabarov, said - “this is a very big step towards the start of world war three.”
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Donald Trump
Donald Trump will become president in January. He has criticized Joe Biden for the amount of support he has given Zelenskyy and has said he could end the conflict in one day.
A military expert in Russia told Izvestia newspaper that President-elect Trump might change the decision when he comes into office.
Donald Trump Jr had this to say on X.
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International Reaction
EU foreign affairs ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss the war in Ukraine. Germany’s minister said that the move was “important” and "intensification of what has already been delivered."
France and the UK have provided missiles to the UK and have said they will only approve if the US does. France’s foreign affair’s minister said they are now open to allowing Ukraine to use their missiles in Russia.
"Peace through de-escalation is a failing and failed strategy. We need a new one. We need a strategy that will come from strength," Lithuania’s minister said.