Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had been requesting permission to use ATACMS missiles to strike targets inside Russia for months. The US has now allowed Ukraine to use these long-range missiles for limited strikes inside Russia, a major policy reversal by the outgoing Biden administration. This decision comes in response to recent developments, including the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia in the border region. The missiles, provided by Lockheed Martin, are powerful and capable of travelling up to 300km.
Ukraine will likely target Russian positions in the Kursk region with these missiles, aiming to defend against an expected counter-offensive by Russian and North Korean troops. While the supply of ATACMS may not be enough to decisively change the course of the war, it could provide Ukraine with some advantage on the battlefield. The US authorization may also pave the way for other countries like the UK and France to grant Ukraine permission to use similar missiles inside Russia.
There are concerns about the potential escalation of the conflict due to these missile strikes. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against Western involvement in the war, viewing it as direct participation by NATO countries. Some critics argue that the previous restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American weapons were unjustified and done out of fear of provoking Russia. The decision to limit the use of ATACMS, they argue, could give Russia advance notice of potential strikes.
As the situation unfolds, questions remain about how President-elect Donald Trump will react to this policy change. Some of Trump’s allies have already criticized the decision, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation and conflict. Trump’s approach to the war in Ukraine and his stance on Russia have been subjects of speculation and debate. Shutterstock
Muchos de los principales funcionarios de Trump, como el Vicepresidente electo JD Vance, dicen que Estados Unidos no debería proporcionar más ayuda militar a Ucrania.
Pero otros en la próxima administración de Trump tienen una opinión diferente. El asesor de Seguridad Nacional Michael Waltz ha argumentado que Estados Unidos podría acelerar las entregas de armas a Ucrania para obligar a Rusia a negociar.
No está claro hacia dónde se inclinará el presidente electo. Pero muchos en Ucrania temen que él corte las entregas de armas, incluyendo municiones para ATACMS.
“Estamos preocupados. Esperamos que [Trump] no revierta [la decisión]”, dijo Oleksiy Goncharenko, un diputado ucraniano, a la BBC.
“