Russia has warned that Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles will prompt a “tangible and appropriate” response.
The Russian foreign ministry stated that any attack within Russian territory using these weapons would signify “direct involvement of the United States and its allies in hostilities against Russia.”
President Joe Biden recently approved the use of these missiles for strikes inside Russia, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy.
This decision comes just two months before Biden is set to leave office. It remains unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump was consulted on the matter or if he plans to uphold the decision, given his pledge to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Ukraine has already been equipped with U.S. ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) with a range of 300 km (190 miles), alongside French and British Storm Shadow missiles of similar range.
However, Western allies had previously prohibited Kyiv from using these weapons to target Russian territory.
Biden’s move to lift this restriction represents a pivotal development as the war reaches its 1,000th day on Tuesday.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.
Moscow has escalated its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure as both sides appear to be locked in a battlefield stalemate.
The U.S. decision to approve long-range missiles coincides with reports of increased military support for Russia. Over 10,000 North Korean troops have reportedly been deployed to Russia’s western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have seized and maintained a small portion of territory.
Unconfirmed reports suggest North Korea could send up to 100,000 soldiers, along with artillery and other weapons, to bolster President Vladimir Putin’s forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted that the U.S. missile deal might not be officially announced, stating, “the missiles will speak for themselves.”
Ukraine may prioritize using the ATACMS in the Kursk region, though some reports suggest the U.S. has imposed restrictions on their use there as a message to North Korea to halt aid to Russia.
President Joe Biden’s approval of the missiles—potentially paving the way for similar actions by the UK and France—is seen in the West as a clear signal to Putin that a military victory in Ukraine is unattainable.
While Putin has not directly commented on the development, in September, he warned that Ukraine’s use of such missiles would equate to the “direct participation” of NATO countries in the conflict. On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused the U.S. of “adding oil to the fire” with this decision.
But Jon Finer, US deputy national security adviser, said Washington had made it “clear to the Russians that we would respond” – both to the presence of North Korean forces and the “major escalation” in Russian aerial attacks on infrastructure across Ukraine.
The weekend saw intense Russian attacks against Ukraine’s power grid, causing large-scale blackouts. Several people were killed or injured.
On Monday, a Russian strike on Odesa killed another 10 people and injured nearly 50.
Donald Trump has not reacted to Biden’s decision so far.
He swept to victory on 5 November and will return to the White House on 20 January.
Trump has promised to end US involvement in foreign wars and use the taxpayers’ money to improve the lives of Americans.
He has also said he will end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, but has not given details how.
Zelensky recently said he expected Trump to exert pressure on Ukraine and Russia to agree a peace deal within the next year.
Biden’s decision was hailed by French President Emmanuel Macron as a “totally good” step.
The U.S. decision to approve the use of long-range missiles could open the door for France and the UK to authorize Ukraine to deploy Storm Shadow missiles against targets inside Russia. Storm Shadow, a Franco-British long-range cruise missile, has capabilities comparable to the U.S.-supplied ATACMS.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have yet to publicly indicate whether they will permit Kyiv to use these missiles in a similar capacity.
Amid these developments, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on world leaders to “cool the Ukraine crisis” and pursue a political resolution, according to Chinese state media. China has emerged as a critical partner for Russia, helping to mitigate the effects of U.S. and European sanctions imposed following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Beijing has consistently denied allegations of supplying weapons to Russia, despite its growing economic and diplomatic ties with the Kremlin.