As bad as things are in the country and the world under the Biden-Harris regime, President Joe Biden just did something that is likely going to make things even tougher on President-elect Donald Trump on Biden’s way out of the White House. Biden on Sunday has authorized the Ukrainian military to use U.S.-provided long-range missiles to strike Russian territory, according to a report from The New York Times.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that such an action would be considered a declaration of war. As of this report, Putin has not yet responded to Biden’s authorization. Ukraine has conducted limited attacks within Russian territory in the past, including the bombing of the Kerch Strait Bridge in Crimea in 2022. The country has also carried out several drone swarm attacks on Russian soil, and earlier this year, Ukrainian forces opened a front in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. However, the Kursk front has not provided significant strategic gains for Ukrainian forces, as Russian troops have made advancements in other areas.
The authorization of long-range missiles marks a significant escalation in the war, granting Ukrainian forces the capability to strike Russian territory with increased precision. Senior defense officials told The New York Times that Ukraine plans to launch a series of long-range attacks in the coming days, although further details were not provided. This pivotal decision by Biden, made just two months before Trump is set to take office, comes in response to reports of North Korean troops arriving in Ukraine and reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces.
Biden had previously authorized Ukrainian forces to use the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) against Russian forces near the border, a decision made in response to Russia’s offensive in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine’s second-largest city. While HIMARS systems have a maximum range of approximately 50 miles, Biden’s latest authorization of the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) significantly expands Ukraine’s capabilities. With ATACMS, Ukrainian forces can now launch strikes from distances of up to 190 miles.
The White House does not anticipate that the authorization will dramatically alter the course of the war, but believes it will send a strong message to North Korea, potentially deterring further troop deployments. This significant escalation could complicate President-elect Trump’s efforts to broker a peace deal between the warring nations, a goal he has long pledged to pursue upon taking office. Additionally, this move by the outgoing administration could undermine Trump’s prospects for future diplomacy with North Korea, particularly as he has sought to build on the progress made during his first term. In September, President Putin remarked that the authorization of long-range missile strikes would essentially place all NATO countries at war with Russia.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.