Biden authorises ATACMS missiles for Ukraine’s defence in Kursk
With two months left in office, U.S. President Joe Biden has authorised the Ukrainian military to use the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) for the first time to defend its forces in Russia's Kursk region, according to The New York Times, citing American officials.
The weapons may initially be used against Russian and North Korean troops to defend Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia, officials said.
President Biden's decision marks a major shift in U.S. policy. It divided his advisers, and the change comes two months before newly elected President Donald J. Trump assumes office, after he promised to limit additional support for Ukraine.
Allowing Ukrainians to use long-range missiles was in response to Russia's surprise decision to bring North Korean troops into the fight, officials said.
According to NYT, the Russian military is about to launch a major offensive involving about 50,000 soldiers, including North Korean troops, against Ukrainian fortified positions in the Kursk region, aiming to recapture all the Russian territory seized by Ukraine in August.
Ukrainians could use ATACMS missiles to strike concentrations of Russian and North Korean troops, key military equipment, logistical hubs, ammunition depots, and supply lines deep within Russia.
This will help Kyiv weaken the effectiveness of the Russo-North Korean offensive, the publication states.
While some American officials have expressed scepticism about whether allowing long-range strikes will alter the overall trajectory of the war, the decision could aid Ukraine at a time when Russian forces are gaining ground, and it could place Kyiv in a better position to negotiate when, and if, ceasefire talks occur.
It is unclear whether Trump will reverse Biden’s decision once he assumes office. Trump has long criticised the extent of U.S. financial and military assistance to Ukraine and promised to end the war quickly, without explaining how.
However, some Republicans in Congress have urged Biden to ease the rules on how Ukraine can use U.S.-provided weapons.
Russia has warned that it would consider any move to ease the limits on Ukraine’s use of American weapons a major escalation.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
